Councilwoman Barbara Marshall took over as head of the City Council yesterday, vowing better communication with the public and the city administration even as she clashes with the mayor on a major point: the city's commitment to build a multibillion-dollar transit system.

Marshall, a former television reporter, presided at the council's inauguration ceremony with Gov. Linda Lingle, Mayor Mufi Hannemann and other dignitaries watching. Marshall has earned a reputation as a political independent who asks blunt questions.

In her first official comments as council chairwoman, she pledged a new level of cooperation with the administration while repeating her belief that transit will lead "not to less traffic congestion but to a monumental debt for the city's taxpayers."

But Marshall acknowledged that seven of the nine council members voted to move forward with transit so now she will work to ensure "the right steps are taken at the right time to make sure that it all ends well."

The four council members sworn in for new terms after winning re-election were: former chairman Donovan Dela Cruz and council members Charles Djou, Gary Okino and Rod Tam.

"My whole reason for being here is to get information for the public," Marshall said.

She praised Dela Cruz, whom she ousted, for bringing to the council "unprecedented openness."

Hannemann said he doesn't worry about Marshall's opposition to transit because she says what she thinks and they can agree on other important issues.

"I have no problem with the fiscal accountability that she's insisting upon," Hannemann said.

Councilman Todd Apo said it was clear that Dela Cruz and Hannemann had battled for months over various topics. "It was to some extent hampering our city operations," he said.

"I prefer a leadership style that puts things on the table," Hannemann said. "There's no question that we're going to disagree."

A former councilman who has been elected to the top job and displaced from it, Hannemann said he will work with whomever serves in the post.

Although Marshall has been a vocal transit opponent, Hannemann said she will ask tough questions but act fairly on this important issue supported by the majority of the council.

Apo, a key transit supporter, said he will consider each issue on its merits even if it's different from Hannemann's. The new council majority is seen as more generally supportive of Hannemann, but Apo said he's lukewarm to the mayor bringing back a property tax proposal to create a new homeowner's classification like that adopted by the other counties.

Apo said he's interested in looking at what share of property taxes is paid by various classifications to see if the share paid by residents has grown too much too fast. He said the residential classes have gone from paying 50 percent of the taxes to 65 percent in four years even though he doesn't believe that group's expenses have risen at that same pace.

He said he would consider policies that set different shares for different classifications, which could mean that commercial, industrial or hotel/resort owners would need to pay a larger share to ease the burden on residents.

Council records indicate the last time a woman led the council was 20 years ago, when then-council member Marilyn Bornhorst ended a term of just shy of a year in the leadership post.

Marshall said she was pleased to note that she takes on the job with a woman governor and a woman — Sen. Colleen Hanabusa — ready to take the helm in the state Senate. "I think it shows that we're actually making some strides in equality," Marshall said.

Reach Robbie Dingeman at rdingeman@honoluluadvertiser.com.