2008-12-10 Board of Ethics Minutes

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CHAIR: - -Okay— JOSEPH. - -and along with many other people that thought I should file— CHAIR: - -Okay— JOSEPH: - -I should file, and if I erred, I did it innocently, but if the Board wants to bring me up on a petition— CHAIR: - -No— JOSEPH: - -I'd be happy to —I'd be happy to come back. I think the issue before us is not— CHAIR: - -Okay, to clarify —and this is what you went over in your opening statements. The main violation you feel is present here is that Mr. Ashida brought in Gary Safarik 'into this argument, that, quote, "Gary understood the issues " or understood what was the legal issue that was discussed in the debate, as opposed to Emily Naeole and yourself. JOSEPH: I don't think that was his exact words, but CHAIR: - -Yeah— JOSEPH: - -to that general idea, yes. You know, I can understand his wanting to defend Corp Counsel. It's important that he does that, and I respect him for doing that. And if the letter simply ended with his criticism of me, I wouldn't be here today. CHAIR: Well that's my main concern, Wayne, is that in a public forum, you essentially made accusations about an officer of the County and the rules and practices that— JOSEPH: - -Well, Mr. Dill, did you watch this video? CHAIR: Yeah, I did, and— JOSEPH. - -Did the Board watch the video? GENTRY.- Yes. JOSEPH: At whose insistence? CHAIR: Okay, let me finish, okay. Now the thing is, is that these accusations of conflict of interest were made in a public forum, okay, about a public officer and covering rules and — essentially rules that are covered under the County Charter —that Corporation Counsel is mandated to represent County officers and employees in a legal realm. Now Mr. Ashida, withoutgetting into the Gary Safarik business, defended himself on his County time, and defended his position and his employees and attorneys that work for him, against this public accusation. And that's —I think you were just saying that you 13