Today at noon, the new Mayor, Mitch Roth; Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen; and the nine County Council members will be sworn in, as dictated in the County Charter.
The inauguration will be virtual, with the direct participants at either the West Hawaii Civic Center Council Chambers or the Hilo County Building Council Chambers. Roth will be in Kona. Waltjen will be in Hilo. The Council members will split themselves between the two locations.
Former Mayor Billy Kenoi (2008 through 2016) will be the keynote speaker, and the Master of Ceremonies will be DC (Darrin Carlson) of New West Broadcasting.
Because of COVID-19, no guests will be allowed–not even family members or others from the County Administration, and the events will be on NaLeo TV and streamed live.
The Council members who will be sworn in:
District 1, Hamakua: Heather Kimball
District 2, part of Hilo: Aaron Chung
District 3, part of Hilo: Sue Lee Loy
District 4, part of Puna: Ashley Kierkiewicz
District 5, part of Puna: Matt Kaneali’i Kleinfelder
District 6, Ka’u/South Kona: Maile David
District 7, Central Kona: Rebecca Villega
District 8, North Kona: Holeka Inaba
District 9, Kohala/Waimea: Tim Richards
The oath of office will be administered in Kona by 3rd Circuit Court Chief Judge Robert D.S. Kim. Hilo Circuit Court Judge Henry T. Nakamoto will administer oaths of office in Hilo.
The public is invited to watch the proceedings on Na Leo Channel 55 or onine at naleo.tv or at www.hawaiicounty.gov/2020inauguration
Roth has asked that anybody considering gifts or lei for him–as are traditional at County inaugurations–instead make a contribution to Hawaii Island Food Basket (hawaiifoodbasket.org) or any other nonprofit organization that’s helping people during this pandemic.
Photo is Prosecuting Attorney-elect Kelden Waltjen.
