LIHU'E, Kaua'i — The Kaua'i County Council could meet as soon as July 7 to choose one of its seven members to serve as mayor until Dec. 1, when an elected mayor will take office for a two-year term.

That's the plan for succeeding Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste as outlined by Kaua'i County officials in a news release issued yesterday. A public memorial service for Baptiste, who died Sunday after undergoing a heart bypass operation nine days earlier, will be held July 6 at the War Memorial Auditorium in Lihu'e.

The plan follows statements several Kaua'i County Council members made earlier this week in which they noted an intent to honor Baptiste before choosing a new mayor.

Administrative Assistant Gary K. Heu has been serving as acting mayor since Baptiste underwent surgery. Heu; County Council Chairman Bill "Kaipo" Asing; County Attorney Matthew Pyun; County Clerk Peter Nakamura, who is the county election official; and other staff members are addressing details tied to appointing and electing a new mayor. Other council members have not been directly involved, the county news release said.

The state open meetings law requires that public meeting agendas be published at least six days before the meeting.

According to the Kaua'i County Charter, a majority — four of the council's seven members — is required to select a successor. After being sworn in, that council member will assume all the powers of mayor and will no longer be a member of the County Council.

At least four council members must then agree on whom to appoint to fill the former council member's seat. If after 30 days the council is unable to fill the position, the new mayor will make the selection.

Although the county is operating normally under Heu's leadership, Asing said there is anxiety in the community over the matter of succession.

"The sooner we can get this done, the better for everybody," Asing said in the release.

All seven members of the Kaua'i County Council are elected every two years; the mayor is elected to a four-year term.

Voters this fall will select a candidate to serve the two remaining years of Baptiste's term. If the winning candidate in the Sept. 20 primary election fails to get a majority of the vote, he or she will run against the next highest vote-getter in the Nov. 4 general election, Nakamura said.

The council members are elected at-large by Kaua'i's voters, with the seven highest vote-getters taking office. Since the system was instituted in 1996, the top two vote-getters for each of the seven council seats have appeared on the ballot in the November elections, Nakamura said.

Under the Kaua'i County Charter, if a mayoral vacancy happens more than three days before a midterm election filing deadline, an election must be held to fill the remainder of the term. The filing deadline for the Sept. 20 primary and municipal elections is July 22.

Heu said in the county release that the administration will do all it can to support an orderly transfer.

"We are committed to working with the council to ensure an orderly transition and to support the new mayor once he or she assumes the position," he said.