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CHAIR: "Ashida objects " -- <br />JOSEPH: "Was Ashida Playing Politics? " <br />L UM: I think it's a separate sheet. Here, last one. <br />JOSEPH: I mean, it all makes for interesting reading, but 1 just want to get through— <br />DILL: Okay, it's Exhibit S for those of you who —go ahead. <br />JOSEPH: If you look at the last paragraph. <br />DILL: Um hmm. <br />JOSEPH: "It was surprising that Ashida would get into the issue with such vigor, which <br />is why I posted his response immediately and in full yesterday. He certainly could have <br />noted his disagreement with Joseph and Naeole without bringing Safarik into the <br />discussion, which is the part that really politicized his response the most. " You know, I <br />totally agree with that. He went from Corp Counsel to getting involved in apolitical race <br />which he is not a constituent of He does not belong to County District 5. And I believe <br />that's the entire issue that you need to examine this morning, is did he overstep his <br />boundaries? Did he play politics? Was this fair, by playing politics? I would have had <br />no problem at all had he done this as a member of the public, and wrote a letter to the <br />editor as a member of the public. But by coming in as Corp Counsel, by using the <br />letterhead and using his title as Corp Counsel, he put a slant on this. He prejudiced the <br />race against Ms. Naeole and myself and took sides in this issue. <br />CHAIR: Hold on- <br />LUM: (inaudible) -- opening statement, he gets to finish it. <br />CHAIR: Go ahead. <br />JOSEPH: If I may -- <br />CHAIR: - -Yes -- <br />JOSEPH. -- continue. The next day, Mr. Ashida did write a letter of apology, and I know <br />it's before you, and it's very short, so if you don't mind if I read it. It says, "I read your <br />latest online entry, " which is the one I'm' referring to now, "concerning my comments <br />regarding the Board of Ethics, and you are correct. The Corporation Counsel should not <br />make any statement or provide any inference that may be construed that a particular <br />candidate in a contested public election is favored over another. I apologize for my <br />earlier email to you, the candidates in the Council District 5 race, and to the readers who <br />follow your website. " And notice he simply signed it "Lincoln, " and he didn't sign it the <br />way he signed this first letter. I believe this is the issue that's before you this morning, on <br />whether or not Mr. Ashida did step over the boundaries. <br />9 <br />