Local News

Spence to move to housing; McLean to head up planning

Both appointments by mayor require approval of the County Council

The Maui News

County Planning Director Will Spence has been named director of the county Department of Housing and Human Concerns and is to be replaced by his deputy, Michele McLean, according to an announcement by Mayor Alan Arakawa's office on Monday.

Carol Reimann left the housing director position June 1 to become vice president on Maui for Alexander & Baldwin Inc.

Both appointments require approval by the County Council. Spence and McLean will be taking their new positions Sunday on an interim basis until the council acts on the appointments, said Arakawa's chief of staff, Lynn Araki-Regan, on Monday.

Housing Deputy Director Jan Shishido, who has been serving as acting director since Reimann's departure, will return to her position. The new deputy planning director "will be announced as soon as it's determined," said Araki-Regan.

"His experience in the private sector, his nearly seven-plus years of administrative experience leading the Planning Department, and his familiarity with all of the housing projects during his tenure as planning director will be invaluable to the Department of Housing and Human Concerns, especially in the area of affordable housing," said Arakawa.

"I thank Will for his service to the people of Maui County in his capacity as planning director, and I am confident in his ability to lead the Department of Housing and Human Concerns with the same dedication, understanding and expertise," he continued.

Spence and the new planning director, McLean, were original appointees to their positions when Arakawa took office seven years ago.

"As the deputy director of the Planning Department for the past seven-plus years, Michele has proven herself to be more than qualified to fill the director position," said Arakawa. "She has worked closely with the community and her staff and is well-versed and more than capable to serve as director."

Spence said that housing "and creating a sense of community" were the "primary reasons I became a planner in the first place."

McLean called the Cabinet changes "a win-win" with the planning and housing departments having "experienced leadership and management for our last six months" of Arakawa's term. He cannot seek re-election to mayor in the fall due to term limits.