Mayor Mufi Hannemann yesterday named former state legislator Kirk Caldwell as his new managing director, the city's highest appointed post.

Caldwell replaces Wayne Hashiro, who resigned his $120,000-a-year position as managing director earlier this month and accepted a post as chief engineer at the Board of Water Supply.

In making his selection, the mayor spoke of having a favorable working relationship with Caldwell on several projects in the past and of his respect for Caldwell's experience.

"He has many of the qualities I'm looking for in a managing director," said Hannemann. "He is experienced in government, he's very active in the community, and he also has a strong passion for community service."

In particular, Hannemann praised Caldwell for his work to help get the city's $4.28 billion commuter rail project approved by voters.

"Our relationship took a much closer turn, if you will, when I was deeply immersed in my campaign for mayor. I asked Kirk if he would step up and fill some of the leadership responsibilities with the rail project."

Last July, Caldwell attempted to run for the council seat vacated at the last minute by Ann Kobayashi, who left to challenge Hannemann for mayor. Caldwell was disqualified in August after the city clerk's office ruled that his nomination papers were invalid because he had not properly withdrawn from his House re-election campaign by the July 22 filing deadline.

Caldwell, a Democrat, was first elected in 2002 to represent Manoa in the Legislature and served as House majority leader in 2007-08.

The mayor said yesterday that although Caldwell hasn't worked at the city level before, his background in government would allow him to "hit the ground running."

In accepting the city's No. 2 position, Caldwell said it is an honor to be part of the Hannemann team, and complimented the mayor for his courage in tackling the controversial rail issue.

"As the majority leader, I did work with the mayor on the rail issue and many other issues for the city and county," Caldwell said. "And so many times I found that many issues I was interested in were county-type issues — whether it be housing, infrastructure in the urban setting, preserving our ag lands, and making better use of urban lands, and rail was part of that."

Asked whether he would seek to become mayor should Hannemann decide to run for governor in two years, Caldwell refused to speculate on that possibility.

"The mayor just got elected to another four-year term," he said. "I'm coming on as managing director. And I look forward to working as a managing director for the next four years with this mayor. If something happens in the future, we'll have to see."

While Caldwell begins his duties immediately, city spokesman Bill Brennan said he will serve as acting managing director pending City Council confirmation.

At least one council member has promised that the confirmation process will be thorough, and implied that Caldwell's appointment could be payback for his support to the mayor on rail.

In a statement released after Hannemann's announcement, Councilman Charles Djou pointed out that the managing director becomes acting mayor in the mayor's absence.

The statement added that then-managing director Jeremy Harris became acting mayor when Frank Fasi resigned in 1994 in a failed bid to become governor. Harris went on to be elected to two full terms, spending a total of 10 years at the city's helm.

"I look forward to thoroughly reviewing Mr. Caldwell's background and any backroom deals that were made between him and Mayor Hannemann regarding the circumstances of Mr. Caldwell's abandonment of his state House seat and unsuccessful attempt to run for the City Council," Djou said.

"Mr. Caldwell's record in the Legislature has also been exceptionally partisan, and I hope to hear his views on how he will handle a nonpartisan position at City Hall."

Djou's statement said that during the 2008 mayoral campaign Hannemann repeatedly criticized Kobayashi for a "supposed 'back-room deal' " between her and now Councilman-elect Duke Bainum.