HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0810.005 2010-2012 Mrs. Crystal Dohie ; '"' COUNTY CLERK
75-346 Hualalai Rd B103 �;; COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Time /o.�RECEIVED
Date AU G p 0.- i2
To County Council Chair, Dominic Yagong, ��"�� ��44'
I have been following various local news reports surrounding the Primary Election in the
last month. I have become concerned about the unprofessional way that Chief Election
Officer, Scott Nago has dealt with in house personnel issues by speaking with the media.
Any concerns about the County Clerk's performance should have been addressed to the
County Clerk directly or through Dominic Yagong, County Council Chair, before going
to the press.
Nago's media releases right up to the day of the election and then in the days afterward
only service was to cause stress in the minds of the Big Island residents. It seemed as if
he was venting through the press what should have dealt with as a private personnel
issue.
As Chief Electiohs Officer, Mr. Nago seemed intent on smearing the County Clerk in the
court of public opinion. This bullying action does not become a man in his position, and I
was disgusted by it.
On Tuesda 7 night at a public meeting in Kona, I heard Jamae Kawauchi own up to her
responsibility for what happened in the combined State and County election. She never
once said ;hat she was not responsible because she was in Hilo and the election
responsibilities on the west side were "delegated" to those in Kona.
Yet the newspapers reported in Mr. Nago's six page report to the press that because he
was in Honolulu, he had "delegated"the responsibilities to the Hawaii County Clerk. I
believe this is abdication. Scott Nago is ultimately responsible as the Chief Elections
Officer.I have yet to hear an apology from him.
I don't know who is responsible to oversee the Chief Elections Officer, but would
suggest that somebody needs to be held to or assigned that responsibility. Otherwise there
will continue to be these disgraceful shows of bullying that do nothing except bring
shame instead of helpful correction to those under him, while causing damage to the
general population by creating an atmosphere of distrust in the electoral process.
The real conversation should not be about finger-pointing, however. What the people of
this island`want and deserve are solutions. As long as the Elections Commission in
Honolulu and the County Council here on the Big Island focus on infighting and blame-
shifting we can not be assured of the cooperation needed to run 4 combined State and
County.election this November.
Comm. No. 810.5.
Ref.To:
Ref. Dote 2 0 2012