(BIVN) – Dr. Sharon Bintliff left county councilmembers smiling after a vote in support of her nomination to sit on the ethics board.

Mayor Harry Kim put the doctors’ name forward and councilmembers who know Bintliff spoke highly of her character, affectionately calling her “Dr. Shay”, during Tuesday’s Finance Committee meeting in Hilo.

Dr. Bintliff impressed the councilmembers with her answers to their questions, instilling them with confidence in her moral compass, and even charming them with wit and humor.

Dr. Bintliff is a retired physician and has been a resident of Hawaii for over 55 years, according to the mayor’s office. Bintliff is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Medicine, and previously served as a medical emergency physician and a former U. S. Army medic.

“She is an active member of our island community,” wrote the Kim administration, “and volunteers in numerous organization including serving on the Hawai’ i Medical Board, the Anekona Community Association, and previously served on the Hawaii State Ethics Commission.”

“If you want to know of the kind of doctor Dr. Shay is,” said Councilman Tim Richards during the committee discussion, “if you’ve ever seen the movie Patch Adams, I think that’d be a good description of how she approaches life.”

“I have to tell you,” Dr. Shay replied, “that Patch Adams is a good friend of mine. Every year I get a modified red nose from him for Christmas.”

“Why am I not surprised?” laughed Richards.

Dr. Bintliff will serve to fill an unfilled term ending December 31, 2020.