Romeo Munoz Cachola

Romeo Munoz Cachola, commonly known as Romy Cachola, is an American politician from the state of Hawaii. An emigrant from the Philippines, Cachola became one of the first Filipino Americans to be elected to the Honolulu City Council since statehood in 1959. He also was a member of the Hawaii State Legislature and served in the Hawaii State House of Representatives from 1984 to 1992.

Education

Born in the historic Spanish colonial town of Vigan in the Philippines province of Ilocos Sur, Cachola studied at Quezon University near Manila where he obtained his Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws degrees. After having settled in Honolulu and obtained United States citizenship, Cachola became an entrepreneur and realtor.

Politics

With the urging of fellow Filipino Americans in his neighborhood, Cachola ran for the House District 39 seat comprising of Aliamanu, Foster Village and all the military housing districts on the southern coast of Oahu. He served the district until reapportionment in 1991 placed him in House District 30. He successfully ran for the seat and continued his service as a legislator until his election to the Honolulu City Council in 2000.

In the Honolulu City Council, Cachola served as chairman of key positions with budget authority. As Chairman of the Zoning Committee, he was considered one of the most powerful politicians in the City & County of Honolulu following the mayor, managing director and council budget chairman. In 2003, Cachola was elected by his fellow council members as floor leader. Popular within the communities he served as well as among principal military leaders of the United States Pacific Command, Cachola was reelected to the Honolulu City Council on September 18, 2004.

In 2005, the City Council approved a tax increase to fund mass transit, the largest and most expensive public works project in state history. In 2007, shortly after the tax went into effect, Cachola was the swing vote in a controversial decision to decide the train’s route. Cachola insisted that the route go through Salt Lake as a condition of his support. [ [http://www.kitv.com/news/11076949/detail.html Council Rejects Mayor’s Transit Proposal; Salt Lake Added] ] Though the Council ultimately voted 5-4 to approve a route with Cachola’s changes, many Salt Lake residents voiced opposition to the noise and property devaluation rail transit would bring to their community. [ [http://www.khon2.com/news/local/17649624.html Salt Lake Rail Opponents Speak Out] ]

References

Resources

* [http://www.angelfire.com/hi4/councilcachola/ City Council District VII]