WAILUKU, Maui — Maui County has a new mayor with a familiar name.

Charmaine Tavares, who served five terms on the County Council before defeating incumbent Mayor Alan Arakawa in the November election, took the oath of office yesterday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theater. Her late father, Hannibal Tavares, had participated in the same ceremony while serving as mayor of Maui County throughout the 1980s.

In brief remarks, Tavares said her priorities include protecting natural resources and open spaces; "significantly" increasing use of renewable energy sources; diversifying the economy through sustainable technologies, agriculture and higher education; expanding public transportation; and finding "a balance between an economy that is strong enough to provide satisfying jobs to all who want them and a community that includes sufficient housing that is both affordable and livable."

The mayor also urged residents of all ages, ethnic groups and economic levels to "honor and respect" one another and "listen and learn" from their differing perspectives while working in collaboration to improve the community.

Tavares, 63, is a graduate of the University of Hawai'i-Manoa who worked as a health and physical education teacher in public schools on O'ahu and Maui for 15 years. Before being elected to the council, she led the Upward Bound program at Maui Community College and served as director of the county the Department of Parks and Recreation under her father and his successor, Linda Lingle, now serving her second term as governor.

Also yesterday, the newly sworn-in Maui County Council picked G. Riki Hokama of Lana'i to continue as council chairman for the new two-year term. Danny Mateo of Moloka'i was chosen vice chairman.

The leadership posts were selected during an organization meeting that following a morning ceremony for the new council, which comprises six incumbents and three newcomers.

Returning to the council with Hokama and Mateo are Michael Molina of Makawao, Jo Anne Johnson of West Maui, Joe Pontanilla of Kahului, and Michelle Anderson of South Maui. The new members are Gladys Baisa of Upcountry, William Medeiros of East Maui and Michael Victorino of Wailuku.

Council members are hoping for more harmonious relations with Tavares and her Cabinet than existed under Arakawa. The council had complained that the former mayor kept lawmakers in the dark about major county initiatives.

Key Cabinet appointments by the new mayor include Sheri Morrison as managing director, the No. 2 post in the administration; Jeff Hunt, a county planner who held similar positions in the Colorado resort towns of Breckenridge and Vail, as head of the Department of Planning; Jeffrey Eng as director of the Department of Water Supply; Vanessa Medeiros as director of the Department of Housing and Human Concerns; Tamara Horcajo as head of the Department of Parks and Recreation; Frederick Pablo as director of the Department of Budget; and Benjamin Acob as prosecuting attorney.

Holdovers from Arakawa's administration include Department of Public Works and Environmental Management Director Milton Arakawa; Department of Finance head Kalbert Young; and Brian Moto as corporation counsel.

The appointments of Moto, Eng and Acob require council approval.

Reach Christie Wilson at cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com.