HILO, Hawaii – Just three hours after being sworn-in at Monday’s inauguration ceremony, the new Hawaii County Council took their seats in the Hilo Council Chambers and began to divide up the chairs for the various committees.

Assuming the role of Council Chair, Valerie Poindexter quickly led the nine members through a series of resolutions, shaping in roughly 10 minutes the structure for the next two years.

Karen Eoff was designated Council Vice Chair, and then rules of procedure and organization were adopted.

Then it came to the committees:

Maile David was assigned Finance Committee chair and Karen Eoff was assigned as Vice Chair.

Eoff was also named chair of the Committee on Planning, with Eileen O’Hara as Vice Chair.

O’Hara was also appointed as chair of the Committee on Environmental Management. Tim Richards III will be Vice Chair.

Richards and O’Hara will again pair up to head the Committee on Agriculture, Water and Energy. This time the roles will be reversed, with O’Hara as Vice Chair and Richards as Chair.

The Committee of Public Works and Parks and Recreation will have Jennifer Ruggles as Chair and Maile David as Vice Chair.

Ruggles will also chair the Committee on Public Safety and Mass Transit, with Karen Eoff as Vice Chair.

Maile David will chair the Committtee on Human Services and Social Services, and Sue Lee Loy will be vice chair.

Dru Mamo Kanuha will be chair of the Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic Development. Ruggles was named vice chair.

The new council is:

CHAIR: Valerie Poindexter, District 1
Aaron Chung, District 2
Susan Lee Loy, District 3
Eileen O’ Hara, District 4
Jennifer Ruggles, District 5
Maile Medeiros David, District 6
Dru Mamo Kanuha, District 7
Karen Eoff, District 8
Herbert M.” Tim” Richards, III, District 9

It is the first female super majority in council history.