Arakawa takes himself off city appointees list

The city’s former corporation counsel won’t be returning to his old office.

David Arakawa withdrew himself from consideration to become corporation counsel for personal reasons, Ara­kawa and Mayor Kirk Caldwell confirmed Monday in a joint statement to the Star-Advertiser.

Arakawa, who has headed the pro-development nonprofit Land Use Research Foundation since 2007, was Mayor Jeremy Harris’ counsel from 1997 to 2005.

Caldwell said he is disappointed about Ara­kawa’s withdrawal.

"But I respect his decision and his need to balance his personal and professional obligations," the mayor said in a statement. "I have since interviewed a number of qualified attorneys and I plan to announce a new nominee … as soon as possible."

Arakawa said he originally accepted the job, "but after further reflection about the position, I informed the mayor of my decision to say in private practice," adding, "I support Mayor Caldwell and his visio

n for the city and look forward to working with him and his administration in the future."

Arakawa declined to provide specifics about his decision. Son of prominent Wai­pahu businessman Goro Ara­kawa, he said he will stay on as the foundation’s executive director. Before Harris appointed him, he was a private attorney.

City Councilman Ron Menor, who heads the Executive Matters and Legal Affairs Committee, which works closely with the corporation counsel, said he is also disappointed.

"With his experience and legal qualifications, I felt he would have done a competent and effective job as corporation counsel," Menor said.

Menor said he and other Council members are concerned that two months after the mayor was sworn in, key positions within Caldwell’s Cabinet have yet to be filled — chief among them the corporation counsel and budget director. Department financial evaluations have been taking place without a budget director, and the mayor is required to submit operating and capital improvement budgets by Friday.

"If the mayor is going to be able to implement his plans to improve the city, I think it’s going to be important that he appoints qualified and competent people to these important government positions in the near future," Menor said.

Caldwell is not the first mayor to do without a corporation counsel in its early months. His predecessor, Peter Carlisle, did not name his corporation counsel, Robert Godbey, until April 21, more than four months after becoming mayor.