HONOLULU -- Mayor Mufi Hannemann Tuesday refused to answer questions about his new deputy director for budget and finance, Patrick Kubota.

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Kubota used to be executive director of Unity House, the organization now under federal control for money violations. Tony Rutledge and son, Aaron, were indicted for allegedly misusing millions of dollars of the organization's money.

Kubota worked as a grassroots campaign coordinator for Hannemann's mayoral campaign. Kubota was also an executive director of Unity House.

Federal investigators say over the years questionable financial deals were made by Unity House to benefit Tony and Aaron Rutledge and their friends and political allies.

Kubota was involved in a system that required some Unity House scholarship beneficiaries to do campaign work for Hannemann and others.

Unity House is now under federal control on suspicion it was corruptly managed.

"It is of course a concern," Councilman Charles Djou said.

Djou said before Kubota starts overseeing city money, he first needs to answer some questions.

"(I) just want to know exactly what his relationship was, what's going on with the federal indictment. Is he the target of the federal investigation? Is he a suspect in any way? And, I think he can answer these questions fairly quickly," Djou said.

Kubota did not return calls from KITV 4 News.

Hannemann, who was announcing other appointments Tuesday, was unwilling to discuss Kubota.

"We are just talking today about these appointments, not about the deputy director of that position," Hannemann said. (Read more about Tuesday's appointments.)

Kubota is already on the job at City Hall, but Hannemann refused to say when his appointment will be officially announced.

Djou said the mayor should be more forthright about Kubota.

"I would have hoped that the mayor would clear this cloud immediately," Djou said.