HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0852.001 2014-2016 QoFO
comments on Communication 852 re. leave for Mayor
for Hawai'i County Council Finance Committee, 2 pm Tuesday,April 19, 2016, Kona chambers
from Cory Harden, Hilo 333corv@omail.com
Thank you to Margaret Wille for introducing this measure, and a resolution last fall to reprimand Mayor
Kenoi. It's disappointing that Council voted down that resolution, 7 to 1.
Today, I don't think you should just discuss Mayor Kenoi taking a leave of absence. I think you should
discuss removing him from office.
If he hadn't been caught,would he have run up charges he could never pay back?
What if a County clerk used a pCard for over$30,000 in personal expenses despite repeated warnings,
then refused to release the records forfive years, like Mayor Kenoi?Would the clerk still have a job? Not
likely.
Our County Charter calls for treating everyone in an "impartial manner." [section 14-4] Mayor Kenoi
should be treated the same as a clerk.
The Charter also says"All public property and equipment are to be treated as a public trust and are not to
be used in a proprietary manner or for personal purposes without proper consent" [section 4-4]
• And noncompliance"shall constitute a cause for suspension, removal from office or employment, or such
other penalty as the council may prescribe by ordinance." [section 14-6]
Mayor Kenoi has done a lot of good things. But he should have resigned long ago. He's still getting paid
to be mayor, but he's not fully carrying out his duties because he's hiding to avoid criticism. Could a
County clerk get away with that?
This long-running drama is dragging Kenoi's name through the mud, along with his family and our island.
It's consuming time, energy, and money that is sorely needed for other purposes.
I wish Mayor Kenoi would find the courage to resign. If not, I hope you will find the courage to remove him
from office.
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Comm: No. 11'�V" I
Ref.-Tos
Ref. Date 1 9 2016