Fil-Ams reelected to Honolulu City Council

Three Filipino-Americans have been reelected as members of the Honolulu City Council, according to a news release from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
The three are Councilmembers Kymberly Marcos Pine, Joey Manahan, and Ron Menor, the DFA said.
With their reelection, almost half of the nine-member council representing nine districts of Honolulu City and County are of Filipino descent, with Councilmember Brandon Elefante as the fourth Filipino-American in the council.
Pine, Manahan and Menor took their oath of office in a simple ceremony on January 3 before Supreme Court Associate Justice Sabrina McKenna at the Honolulu Hale, City and County of Honolulu.
The DFA said Councilmember Menor was also elected as the new Chair of the Honolulu City Council. They were joined by their colleagues Councilmembers Ikaika Anderson and Ann Kobayashi during the oath-taking. Consul General Gina Jamoralin was invited as special guest of Menor.
Menor said under his leadership, the Council will continue to address pressing issues such as the Honolulu rail project and homelessness. He also presided over the Council’s first meeting of the year and voted on one resolution.
Other VIP guests present were Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell, Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho, former Governor John Waihee III and other State officials.
Outgoing Council Chair Ernest Martin thanked the Council for their support all throughout his chairmanship and congratulated the new Council leadership and expressed hope that the City Council will continue to be responsive to people’s concerns and issues affecting their daily lives. —KBK, GMA News

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