2007-07-11 Board of Ethics Minutes Regular Session

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wanted to say —that we support, that I support, the people of my area, of my family, Emily, and that we don't think these are founded. Thank you. Chair: Thank you. James Weatherford. Weatherford: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and good morning to you all. My name is James Weatherford and I live in Kea`au. Ms. Nae`ole is my council district representative. I wanted to relate an incident, and to do that, you have to understand that I previously worked with the County Council, one of the members, in the very same sort of role that Ms. Hale is supposed to have been in. Shortly after Emily was elected, my wife and I agreed that we should organize a talk -story with her and some of our neighbors to discuss several issues of concern to us, and I must say that most of them Emily agreed with and few of them she didn't, but that is the way those discussions go. Nevertheless, during the process of the night Emily was there, so was Ms. Hale and so was Gwen, Ms. Nae`ole's secretary, or council aide. Through the process of discussion, having previously served in that role, I was absolutely stunned at Ms. Hale's behavior in terms of interrupting, ridiculing constituents for raising issues, and assuring them that they didn't need to worry about anything, that she would take care of it all. The election victory was continuously referred to as "we won," and I can say for any situation in a social group, in a conversation, one would raise questions. But as a professional that had worked in that position, I was literally stunned, and I have been around long enough that it is kind of hard to surprise me. I thought it was so unprofessional that I, a few days later, sat down and wrote Emily a letter, didn't mention any names, but made a few suggestions, as one of her constituents having experience with the Council. A few things that I recommended, I put it that way —I recommended —that one of those included making sure that all of her staff knew that it was she and not any of her staff that was elected as representative. I would be very glad to answer any questions that you might have. Thank you. Chair: Thank you Mr. Weatherford. Desmon Haumea. Haumea: Good morning. I would like to say hello to all the kupunas, my family, this morning. My name is Desmon Antone Haumea, currently employed at the University of Hawaii as a faculty member. I would like to apologize for my attire this morning. I am in the middle of an ocean safety and awareness program at —down at Hilo One. I am here this morning in support of Barbara Hale Barcena and Emily Nae`ole. I have known these people since childhood, which is almost over 50 years. While living on Maui, actually while being employed here at the Orchid Isle Hotel, I worked with Barbara and on Maui as a court clerk with the Second Circuit District Court for almost 20 years of experience, some criminal activity that the alleged perpetrator was Barbara Barcena. So I