Welcome to Inside Honolulu! The Honolulu City Council has recessed until 2011, but there’s still work to be done. There’s also a council vacancy to be filled, with just over a week until the special election. Civil Beat is reporting from the inside.

City to the Rescue

2:45 p.m.

You don’t have to drive far to see how heavy rains effected Honolulu roads over the weekend. In fact, you’ll probably feel the damage before you see it.

Potholes are everywhere.

But a spokesman with the mayor’s office, Johnny Brannon, says help is on the way.

“The Department of Facility Maintenance is continuing to assess road conditions throughout the island, and today began or completed pothole repairs in the Downtown, Waikiki, Pearl City, Ewa and Waialua areas,” Brannon told Civil Beat. “Tomorrow, DFM crews will be working in the Kapahulu, Honolulu, Pearl City, Waianae, Laie, Kailua and Kaneohe areas, and others as needed.”

Special Election Ballots Trickling In

9:50 a.m.

About 17 percent of ballots in the special election for the Honolulu City Council‘s District 1 seat have been returned to the City and County of Honolulu Elections Division. There are 14 candidates vying for the seat in the mail-in election.

Of the 47,000 ballots sent out for race, 7,985 have been returned as of Dec. 20.

District 1 covers the bulk of southwest Oahu and the position pays $52,446 per year. The seat opened up when former council Chair Todd Apo resigned Nov. 8 to take a job with the Disney Aulani resort at Ko Olina.

The special election is set for Wednesday, Dec. 29.

Catch Up on Previous Editions of Inside Honolulu

• Monday, Dec. 20: Accusations fly in District 1 race; Campaign finance reports begin to roll in; City responds to heavy rains across Oahu; Some facilities remain closed today.

• Friday, Dec. 17: Mufi gets a new job; Army Corps of Engineers briefs the mayor; Skyrocketing liquor license fees linked to newspaper ad hike and more major steps taken for city rail project and a sewer system overhaul.

• Wednesday, Dec. 15: Real property value dips on Oahu; Commission votes to ask prosecutor to explore new allegations against Rod Tam; Former Mayor Mufi Hannemann mum on new job; Judge approves massive consent decree; City delays rolling out new website.

• Monday, December 13: City Info-Tech Director Gordon Bruce tweets about hacking, Superbowl; County leaders impatient for House organization; Miniscule voter turnout at Honolulu Hale so far; Mufi Hannemann plans return to City Hall.