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~ ~~~0(~J1Y~ <br /> ~~f <br /> Working Together LOCAL 152, AFL-CIO ~.j~/ <br /> for Hawaii' `n.g 7~''~~•• <br /> Hawaii Government Employees Association <br /> 495 Manono Street, Hilo, Hawaii 96720, Phune (808) 935-6841, FAX (A08)i961-2437 - <br /> December 17, 1997 ] ~ ~ <br /> C~_.. <br /> Testimony of Newton Inouye, HGEA/AFSCME Board of DirectorsC~t4-~dUitart of : <br /> Resolution 185-97. <br /> Good morning honorable County Councilmembers. Thank you for offering me this opportunity <br /> <br /> to address this body. I came to speak to you about passing Resolution No. 185-97. <br /> My name is Newton Inouye. I have been employed for the past 17.5 years with the State of <br /> Hawaii Department of Health, Hawaii District Health Office. I have lived in the Kaumana area <br /> for the past 12 years and have lived in Hawaii County all my life other than going away for <br /> college. I am also a small business person as I manage and own several rental dwellings in the <br /> East Hawaii District. I have felt the weak economic situation we are in because on several <br /> occasions I have had to lower my rent to attract good tenants. My family also adjusted to this <br /> weak economic times because in 1995 my wife was laid off after being employed with the State <br /> Department of Agriculture for over 12 years as a permanent employee. I realize that government <br /> cannot do everything for everybody so I have been involved in several community projects. For <br /> instance just this year I was the Co-Chair of the American Cancer Society Moonlight madness <br /> Event that raised over $65,000 from this community. I was also fortunate to be a part of the <br /> Lehua Jaycees and with this organization I participated in such projects as the Downtown <br /> Christmas Parade, Senior Citizens Christmas Luncheon, 4th of July Fireworks from Coconut <br /> Island, Springfest Carnival, Food Bank Fundraisers, etc. As a member of the HGEA, we did such <br /> projects as the "Get The Drift And Bag It" litter pickup at the Bayfront, Hospice Tree Light Up A <br /> Life, Letter Carriers Drive for the Hawaii Island Food Bank, etc. Also this past October in <br /> Papaaloa I volunteered with their Annual Haunted House Project for the Ko'niani Community <br /> Association. Presently, I am serving on the Hawaii Red Cross and the Hawaii Island Food Bank <br /> as a Board member. <br /> County and State employees like myself play an active role in our community such as volunteering <br /> their time, donating to the Hawaii Island United Way, serving on numerous boards for nonprofit <br /> organizations, youth activities, sports functions, etc. We live and work in this community and we <br /> are concerned about it just as much as any of your constituents. This is why I have come before <br /> you to inform the Council that Unit 03 and 04 are not "just clerks", and I believe you need to <br /> know who your vote directly affects. <br /> I have compiled a short list of approximately 150 different jobs within Units 03 and 04 -this is by <br /> no means all of the jobs; this is a short but revealing list. Because of the limited time available to <br /> nte, I shall not read the entire list but will skip around. <br /> 1 Ouo>• Y4 J <br /> g-Z~• <br /> ~ <br /> P1b lie. - <br /> Presented cooNO~~ <br /> let. Ybi <br /> r~.tR DEC 1 7 1991 <br /> <br />