Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> a <br /> IiICKERTON ¦ LEE ¦ DANG SULLIVAN <br /> A LIl/ll l.lr IIARI LI (Y tAN' PARE NI RS IIIP <br /> October 12, 2007 <br /> Via Facsimile (,808-961-8912) and U.S. Mail <br /> Mr. Pete Hoffmann, <br /> Chair, Hawaii County Council <br /> 25 Aupuni Street <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> Re: Lobbying Status of James J. Bickerton, Esq. and Members of Ho`omalu Hawaii <br /> Deaz Council Chair Hoffmann: <br /> I submit this letter to provide more information about the lobbying status of myself and members <br /> of Ho`omalu Hawaii as I promised at the last Council's meeting. <br /> First, it is our understanding that under the Hawaii County Code ("ACC") an organization <br /> cannot register as a "lobbyist." Rather, any of its members who meet the definition of the term <br /> "lobbyist" in HCC Section 2-91.3(a)(6) should register as lobbyists. Ho`omalu Hawaii is an <br /> unincorporated grassroots coalition that was founded by Mr. Jim Becker, a Honolulu resident <br /> who has been instrumental in other grassroots community associations. Therefore, Ho`omalu <br /> Hawaii, an unincorporated association of interested persons, has not registered as a lobbyist in <br /> Hawaii County. <br /> Second, we are not awaze whether any members of Ho`omalu Hawaii are registered as a lobbyist <br /> in Hawaii county. If any members qualify as "lobbyists" under HCC Section 2-91-3(a)(6), we <br /> assume that they will take whatever steps they need to in order to comply with the law. <br /> Third, neither I nor any other attorney at my law firm is a registered lobbyist in Hawaii County. <br /> After we were engaged to provide legal representation to Ho`omalu Hawaii relating to <br /> "superstores" in Hawaii County, my law partner Barry Sullivan contacted the Hawaii County <br /> Corporation Counsel to inquire whether lawyers appearing before Hawaii County governmental <br /> bodies (such as the Planning Commission or the Council) on behalf of clients needed to register <br /> as lobbyists. Mr. Sullivan was specifically advised that we need not do so as the applicable <br /> ordinances do not apply to attomeys representing their clients- To the extent relevant, we share <br /> in the belief of others that it would be unconstitutional to require attomeys to comply with such <br /> registration or to disclose the information stated in the ordinance. <br /> Comm. No. 3z • ~00 <br /> Ref. To:~ilyue~i t <br /> Raf. Dote <br /> '1 iiFa Financial Cen ler, Furl Street lower • 745 Fart Street, Suite 801 • Hom9ulu, Ilawai'i 96813 <br /> PDrmle: 808599.3811 Ynx: 8118.53 i.24fi7 Wcb: www.t}SUti.~om <br /> <br />