Elections Office

[Rob Tucker]

Interesting.... since we are all mired in stories what other precinct stories did you hear?

It's pretty easy to screw things up when you know only one person will get the blame.

Someone named "jan" just posted an interesting account on BIC. It's about the fifteenth post I think....

http://www.bigislandchronicle.com/2012/0.../#comments

[Guest]

I can't fathom anyone seeing what happened Saturday, seeing the involvement of various State Officials, including the Governor having to issue a proclamation to extend voting hours, and now perhaps maybe even one candidate contesting the results and say this was a "set up" by various "media" to "sabotage" this election.

Let me make an analogy to those too blind to see the reality here:

I am a very frequent flyer. In addition to flying off island, I fly 2 to 5 days a week on the mainland. I fly 250,000 to 500,000 miles a year. I have made ALL of my travel plans to conform to each and every rule of the TSA - including being "pre screened" in various large airports - such as O'Hare, LAX, etc.

I COULD be someone who says the TSA is great - and works fine - because I NEVER EVER have any issue going thru airport security.

Now, being a practical realist who can see beyond the nose on my face, I do realize the TSA is one hell of a screwed up government agency.

But, I could say that my opinion of the TSA is that is GREAT! - But I don't!

Get real. Look beyond the nose on your face as well as your friends - who now will BOTH be soon unemployed by us - the TAX PAYER along with those “media” people who got it right!

[Rob Tucker]

You Ken have not apparently ever taken on a Hawaiian union.

[Guest]

Again Rob, very wrong. I work with each and every Construction Union nationwide - including right here in the State of Hawaii.

I am a trustee in numerous Union Pension Funds. I have been the Chairman of numerous Apprenticeship Committees in dozens of the Construction Trades.

I think you need to take your blinders off on this one. You are on the wrong side, and you backed the wrong people.

PS - I forgot to add - my Company employs on average 1,200 to 1,400 various Union workers nationwide per year.

[Rob Tucker]

I bow to your better judgement.

It is all basically past tense anyway.

[csgray]

Ken,
The only one to suggest "this was a "set up" by various "media" to "sabotage" this election." is you. You took unconnected comments and strung them together to set up a straw man and then knock it down.

It is possible that the people in the office who were unhappy with their old boss and coworkers being fired, and unhappy with their new boss, would have a motive to make sure this election does not go smoothly. As well, media that want to gain readers/viewers have a clear motivation to pump the story up as big and messy as possible. I have seen very incendiary language used in what were labeled as "news" not "opinion" in stories that were very slanted and biased, published in a variety of different venues. That is not real journalism, that is the 21st century's version of the penny tabloid and it was disappointing to see when we are already so under-served here in Hawaii County for news coverage.

I voted absentee and turned my ballot in directly to the elections division, it was handled in my presence in such a way that I do not know if it was ever actually counted, so I do have questions about that office and how it functions. That said, I think it is too soon for people to be blaming anyone specific for the problems, when we don't even actually know as a fact what the problems were. Yes, the ultimate responsibility always lies at the top, but the actual damaging actions could have been through incompetence by a new administrator, or sabotage by employees who were mad about the changes being made. It would be pretty easy to mispack a few precinct boxes, mislabel a few others, misdirect a precinct worker or two, and then make a few calls to the media to scream about how incompetent your boss is. It may be true that the new boss really is the whole problem, and that we just experienced a 3rd world style election here in Puna, I don't know. None of us know, but a lot of people are acting like they do know, with no real evidence on the table.

Until we have real evidence, not anonymous accusations, rumors, and shrill letters to a blog from a disgruntled fired temporary worker, we the public do not know what happened in that office. It would be good for people to make sure they know the facts before screaming for people to be fired, after all isn't a rush to judgement about the fired elections workers supposed to be the start of all the problems?

Carol

[JerryCarr]

Thank you, Carol, for an excellent analysis.

[Guest]

@ Carol,

I suggest you read ALL of Mr. Tucker's comments with respect to this issue. Specifically look at his 08/14/2012 at 13:55:03 post. Please look at all other blogs he has commented on with respect to this matter as well.

My opinion is based upon the actions and/or lack of actions of the Clerk and her direct Superior, and not one single "shrill" letter.

Again, it’s impossible for one to see when they refuse to take the blinders off.

If not for the 21st century media we now have, this entire debacle of gross incompetence would have been shoved under the carpet. As it has for many many years.

I could not be any happier knowing that the two directly responsible people for this entire mess will be off the tax payer payroll very soon.

PS - The "status quo" of this Islands politics got a huge black eye over this entire mess. I can see how that has some people very defensive.

[Rob Tucker]

I suspect we will learn more as time goes on. I have seen Ms. Kawauchi at work. Incompetent she in not.

[opihikao]

Apparently, the State is doing their own investigation.

(*Snipped from pahoated link - Mahalo, pahoated)

State Elections Spokesman Rex Quidilla said the State can’t wait any longer to get the information about what really happened Saturday, and is conducting its own investigation.

Perhaps on Monday at the special Council meeting we will get some sort of solution to ensure the general election goes smoothly.
Public confidence in the election process needs to be the priority.

Something is terribly wrong (in my opinion) when the Council Chair is running for Mayor, oversees the County Clerk, who is in charge of elections. Won't even go into the firing of the election staff, and their reinstatement, just to be sent home with pay. Good God.

Maybe Yagong should remove himself as Chair at this point, and allow Vice Chair (Pilago) to take over. It would show Yagong's integrity if he does this. JMO.