Editorial: Council must be wary of spending

Finally, voters have settled the question over the disputed East Oahu seat on the Honolulu City Council, giving rise to a whole new dynamic: What will be the give-and-take between the Council, once it’s formally constituted, and the mayor?

Tommy Waters will not take over the office from former Councilman Trevor Ozawa until Saturday’s special election is certified, following a 20-day challenge period. Waters’ 1,004-vote win seems decisive, especially compared with the razor-thin, 22-vote margin for Ozawa last November, but it would be smart for the Council to wait before formalizing any organizational plans.

But assuming no further disruptions in this extremely turbulent contest — resolved only by the state Supreme Court ordering a revote — attention already has turned toward effects on some critical decisions pending in Honolulu Hale. The budget-busting Honolulu rail project looms over the city’s fiscal future, constraining plans for other new proposals.

At least, it should constrain them. Even beyond the immediate concerns about snags in rail construction financing, taxpayers ought to feel concerned that the city will shoulder the costs of operating the system and maintaining it. If money gets siphoned off for other proposed new-starts, such as the Neal Blaisdell Center makeover and significant upgrades to Ala Moana Beach Park, where will the rail get its local funding stream?

Waters, an attorney and former state lawmaker, succeeded in this third balloting round for the Council, the first two being in the 2014 and 2018 regular elections, both times with Ozawa as his opponent. He had the support of Mayor Kirk Caldwell, an ally since both first served in the Hawaii Legislature.

Construction interests contributed to both candidates, some in comparable amounts, but Waters plainly outraised Ozawa in the special-election campaign, with additional advertising paid for by political action committees. Putting some measure of distance between those influences and his office will be Waters’ responsibility to the voters he represents.

Further, all nine Council members must remember their first allegiance is to voters, in any organizational moves to be made now. It’s not clear yet who will emerge as the permanent chairperson; Ann Kobayashi, who has held the post temporarily while the special election was underway, is expected to step down.

It does seem likely that the leadership of the Council will be more favorable to Caldwell; Ozawa, who had been positioned to become chairman before the 2018 election results were challenged, was an outspoken critic of the mayor.

Waters has said publicly that he would not be a “rubber stamp” for the mayor; he will have multiple opportunities to make good on that commitment now.

He will be called to hear community concerns about Blaisdell and Ala Moana park redevelopment proposals; all the Council members, in fact, must be guided by a clear-eyed assessment of resources and basic city needs. Collectively, the Council members must work in concert, moving beyond petty politics.

Among the major initiatives soon to reach a decision point is Bill 89, the proposal to regulate vacation rentals on Oahu and ultimately have them taxed appropriately.

There will be other efforts to boost revenue, such as the now-jettisoned trash fees, and ongoing attempts to institute “monster house” rules and other land-use controls.

In all that follows this power-shifting election, the Council will be bound to give greatest weight to the public interest for the near- and long-term future, and function as the co-equal branch of government that it is.