Marshall makes City Council ceremony
January 2nd, 2009 by Peter BoylanCity Council member Barbara Marshall was sworn in today along with four of her colleagues.
Marshall, who is battling colon cancer, easily won re-election during the Sept. 20 primary. She showed up yesterday in a wheel chair and guided by her husband, but was able to stand on her own and take the oath of office.
Marshall left before the speeches began but before receiving a standing ovation by all in attendance, including Gov. Linda Lingle.
"Thank you for being here and know that all of our thoughts are with you," said City Council Chair Todd K. Apo.
Marshall is battling cancer for the third time in the past six years but has said she is confident she can perform her council duties.
Marshall was diagnosed with colon cancer in May, and is undergoing chemotherapy while taking oral cancer medication.
In the last several months, her treatment and condition have forced her to miss several council meetings and community events.
Marshall was first diagnosed with uterine cancer the day after she won the primary election in 2002.
After beating back the disease, she again was diagnosed with uterine cancer midway through her re-election campaign in 2004, and overcame it a second time.
The latest diagnosis was made shortly after her mother died on April 30.
January 2nd, 2009 at 8:43 pm
Council member Marshall has great courage and wish her the best of luck on her recovery. In the council she has always been a fighter but this is the greatest fight of all.
January 4th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Unfortunately, we did not elect her staff so when she misses votes as well as community meetings, we are not fully represented.
Unfortunately, the quality of her opponents in the Primary left most people with little choice but to vote for Marshall or to leave it blank.
One had no knowledge or political experience outside of his own specific community while the other opponent could let her picture be used in the dictionary to illustrate the word NIMBY.
February 24th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Aloha,
in reply to the person who wrote on Jan 04 under City Observer you state
that one of the people that ran in the last election had no experience
outside his community or had any political background.
When looking at nearly all of the current and past Council members
they did not have have background experience either and yet the people
of Hawaii chose to elect them.I think it is more important that we elect people that have a history of business and backgound in finances so we can balance the budget and start to run the local Govt offices like a business.
Mahalo