Tulsi Gabbard is now a voting member of the Parks and Cultural Affairs Committee, replacing Nestor Garcia. Garcia, in turn, has Gabbard’s old spot on the Zoning and Planning Committee.

That’s from a new committee assignments memo sent to all Honolulu City Council members last week by Chair Ernie Martin. It replaces the old committee assignments memo Martin circulated when he ascended to power last year.

Other than the Gabbard-Garcia swap, nothing else changed.

Asked about the swap, Gabbard’s office issued the following statement via email:

Councilmember Gabbard feels that one of the most overlooked needs in the urban core is that of recreation. With the growing pressure to increase the density of the urban core, and our finite land base for recreation, she feels it’s important to represent her constituency on the Parks Committee to protect our limited resources, and to be a rational voice for the balance between urban development and preserving our parks and open spaces.

Neither Garcia nor Martin answered questions about the switch.

A cynical observer might think a more favorable schedule was part of the impetus for the change. Gabbard now has no vote for both committees that meet on Thursdays. (Technically, all members belong to all committees.)

The swap means the congressional hopeful can campaign on neighbor islands for one extra day every time committees meet without breaking her promise to never miss a Council meeting.