section_path: Early political career/Honolulu City Council (2011–2012)
section_name: Honolulu City Council (2011–2012)
paragraph_text: Honolulu City Council (2011–2012)
  
  After returning home from her second deployment to the Middle East in 2009, Gabbard ran for a seat on the Honolulu City Council vacated by City Councilman Rod Tam, of the 6th district, who decided to retire to run for mayor of Honolulu. In the 10-candidate nonpartisan open primary in September 2010, Gabbard finished first with 26.8% of the vote. The seat represented parts of downtown Honolulu, including Alewa Heights, Kalihi Valley, and areas of Makiki and Kalihi. At the time of her campaign for the council, Gabbard was still publicly known as "Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo". During her campaign, Gabbard's opponents accused her of improperly using her tax-exempt Stand Up for America nonprofit to promote her candidacy. The organization (which as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit was forbidden from endorsing political candidates) included content on its website which promoting her candidacy (including hyperlinks to her campaign website, as well as a reprint of a press release by her campaign). Gabbard called this an "honest mistake" by one of the organization's volunteers, and denied having had knowledge of it. Gabbard won election in the November 2 runoff election, capturing 49.5% of the vote and defeating Sesnita Moepono.
  
  While on the council, Gabbard introduced a measure to help food truck vendors by loosening parking restrictions. She also introduced Bill 54, a measure that authorized city workers to confiscate personal belongings stored on public property with 24 hours notice to its owner. After overcoming opposition from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Occupy Hawai'i, Bill 54 passed and became City Ordinance 1129.
  
  After returning home from her second deployment to the Middle East in 2009, Gabbard ran for a seat on the Honolulu City Council vacated by City Councilman Rod Tam, of the 6th district, who decided to retire to run for mayor of Honolulu. In the 10-candidate nonpartisan open primary in September 2010, Gabbard finished first with 26.8% of the vote. The seat represented parts of downtown Honolulu, including Alewa Heights, Kalihi Valley, and areas of Makiki and Kalihi. At the time of her campaign for the council, Gabbard was still publicly known as "Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo". During her campaign, Gabbard's opponents accused her of improperly using her tax-exempt Stand Up for America nonprofit to promote her candidacy. The organization (which as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit was forbidden from endorsing political candidates) included content on its website which promoting her candidacy (including hyperlinks to her campaign website, as well as a reprint of a press release by her campaign). Gabbard called this an "honest mistake" by one of the organization's volunteers, and denied having had knowledge of it. Gabbard won election in the November 2 runoff election, capturing 49.5% of the vote and defeating Sesnita Moepono.
  
  While on the council, Gabbard introduced a measure to help food truck vendors by loosening parking restrictions. She also introduced Bill 54, a measure that authorized city workers to confiscate personal belongings stored on public property with 24 hours notice to its owner. After overcoming opposition from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Occupy Hawai'i, Bill 54 passed and became City Ordinance 1129.