Hippies Unite, Akaka Bill News, Dynamic Duo at City Hall, Drama in the Council Race and More Hawaii Political News

Hippies Unite – This Could Be Hawaii’s Next Governor

While Abercrombie is a bit older now, his beard is nicely trimmed, he mostly likely no longer inhales, and he doesn’t drive that yellow cab or attend anti-Vietnam war protests, he is still known for his rebellious side. He’s also ahead in the polls.

Charles Djou: Public Vote in Hawaii Should Be Taken on Akaka Bill

The AP reports that Republican U.S. Rep. Charles Djou “supports holding a nonbinding plebiscite in Hawaii on proposed federal legislation that would initiate negotiations for a new Native Hawaiian government.”

Djou maintains that he “strongly supports the measure”, but “some sort of advisory public vote in Hawaii would be acceptable if the bill is not passed during an expected lame-duck congressional session after Tuesday’s general election, and if it is considered in the future,” he told AP.

See the full report here: https://www.ctpost.com/default/article/Djou-says-he-backs-advisory-vote-on-Akaka-bill-735656.php

No Politics or Politicians at Hawaii Law Firm, Candidate Stanley Chang Told

Attorney Stanley Chang, candidate for the Honolulu City Council district that runs from Hawaii Kai to Waikiki, was employed for a brief time at Cades Schutte in downtown Honolulu, specializing in real estate law. That is until he decided to run for political office.  Chang says he took the year off to campaign.

When Cades Shutte learned of Chang’s campaign for city council, he was released. Prominent First Amendment Attorney Jeff Portnoy, who works at Cades Shutte, confirms Chang “was an associate for a short period of time, but the firm has a policy that we do not permit our lawyers to run for office ( too many conflict issues, etc), so asked him to resign with the understanding that if he did not prevail, he could reapply.”

The drama in the Chang campaign continues. Kekoa McClellan, who used to work for council member John Henry Felix, a Republican, is Chang’s campaign manager. Chang and his opponent Rich Turbin are both Democrats.

McClellan sent emails out claiming that Rich Turbin essentially is a traitor to his party for accepting endorsements from GOP Congressman Charles Djou and other area Republicans. Djou formerly held the council seat they are both vying for in the non-partisan council race, so his endorsement could be considered coveted.

Turbin, head of Kahala Neighborhood Board and former head of the Bar association, countered the criticism by gaining the endorsement from the other sitting Hawaii Congresswoman Mazie Hirono, a Democrats’ Democrat, and announcing that via a press release seen here.

The close race continues to get more heated as the Nov. 2 election approaches.

State Report Out on Hawaiian Time

The state released its financial CAFR report this week. The report is more than 15 months late. The state says that is because of a law that changes responsibility to prepare the documents from the state administration to the state legislative auditor.

See the CAFR here: https://www.state.hi.us/auditor/Categories/audit2009.htm

See Reporter Greg Wiles report on the late CAFR:

https://www.hawaiireporter.com/hawaii-state-financial-report-14-months-late

More reports on this soon from Hawaii Reporter as reporters delve into state finances. Snooze.

Dynamic Duo at City Hall

Marsha Rose Joyner is working for Honolulu City Council member Rod Tam in his final days in office before his term expires.

Joyner, a well-known Democratic Party figure, admitted in 2004 to embezzling funds from the Kon Tiki Condo in Waikiki, where she was association president between 1997 and 2000.

See the full report by Jay McWilliams:  “Joyner Sentenced in Theft Case”

https://archives.hawaiireporter.com/story.aspx?3768fe3e-f0de-403f-b53e-7f771c8b1471

For a trip down memory lane see this part of McWilliams:’ report: “Joyner, a high-ranking member of Hawaii’s Democrat Party, former candidate for the Hawaii State Senate, and president of the Dr. Martin Luther King Day Coalition of Hawaii, pled no-contest to second-degree theft charges on Sept. 8, 2003, and after three postponements, her sentencing finally occurred on March 11, 2004, at First Circuit Court in Honolulu.”

In court statements by the prosecuting attorney, Jeffrey Albert, and the judge, it was revealed that police records showed that $14,700 of the apartment owners’ money was taken by way of 22 checks written by Joyner over an 18-month period during the time she was association president and entrusted with paying the utilities and lease rent for the condo’s 48 units.  … Carroll Henry, one of the owners and current association president of the Kon Tiki Condo, explained to the court what occurred, “The condominium is made up of 48 studio apartments and the vast majority of owners are poor or elderly. Many of the owners only own these small apartments and if they would have lost them, they would have been out on the street … At the time I discovered the embezzlement, our debts were so bad that had they not been discovered for a couple more months, we would have lost every single thing and would have gone into bankruptcy,” he said. “We were long overdue on our water, gas and electric bills. They had sent notices that they were going to be shut off.”

Marsha Joyner closely involved with the senate campaign of Larry Price, district 8, and no he is not the radio guy.

Tam, a former State Senator and failed candidate for mayor in the September 2010 special election, is currently under investigation by the Honolulu Police Department, according to this KITV report, which notes investigators are looking into how Tam utilized his city office funds for personal use.

In March, an extensive Honolulu City Ethics Commission investigation found Tam bought hundreds of meals with city funds for his family, friends and constituents over a 4-year-period at a cost of nearly $50,000.

After the Ethics commission report was released, Tam agreed to pay just under $14,000 back.

The attorney general, in partnership with the local police, are looking further into the Tam expenditures.

Tam has been a source of many local and national columns and talk show hosts interested in his bills that would ban “smelly people” from the public bus system and provide “naps and snacks” to all government employees on government time so they could have a more productive work day.

See the WSJ report on the smelly legislation here: https://blogs.wsj.com/law/2009/09/03/smelly-people-in-hawaii-and-the-law/

Don’t Forget to Vote and Vote Informed – Nov. 2

For more information on important issues and candidates in this election, see the Hawaii Reporter Voter Guide

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