Senator launches email campaign to block Ha

[Rob Tucker]

Senator launches email campaign to block ag board reappointment

By TOM CALLIS
Stephens Media Hawaii

"A Big Island state senator has started an email campaign seeking to stop colleagues from reappointing Richard Ha to the state Board of Agriculture.

“If any of you share my revulsion at Richard Ha being appointed to the State Ag Board, it’s not too late to do something,” Sen. Russell Ruderman said in an email sent March 13 from his personal account.

Ha, owner of Hamakua Springs Country Farms, has been at odds with Ruderman over issues of genetically modified crops and geothermal energy. Ha also criticized Ruderman in Hawaii media for supporting legislation against transgenic food, while owning natural food stores on the Big Island."

http://westhawaiitoday.com/news/local-ne...ppointment

[Rob Tucker]

I've known Russell Ruderman for a number of years and consider myself on good terms with him. I disagree with him regarding Richard Ha. I disagree with him on a number of things and agree with him on others .... but I don't ever have expectations of agreeing with anyone all the time.

I have sent in letters to the Ag committee and senate at large in support of Richard Ha's nomination to remain on the Agriculture Board.

Anyone can email the Ag committee at these addresses:
sennishihara@capitol.hawaii.gov, senkouchi@Capitol.hawaii.gov, sendelacruz@capitol.hawaii.gov, senenglish@capitol.hawaii.gov, senthielen@capitol.hawaii.gov, senwakai@capitol.hawaii.gov, senslom@capitol.hawaii.gov

[Obie]

I have been waiting until they schedule a hearing to send in my testimony supporting Richard Ha.

I hope that the senators receiving the emails in opposition are aware that it is coming from a well organized minority .

[Obie]

Here is Russell's post on the GMO~FREE OAHU facebook page.

"Richard Ha, prominent GMO proponent, has been nominated to State Ag Board. If you have concerns about this, the Senate committee on agriculture ( AGL) wants to hear from you. Afterwards the full Senate ( sens@capitol.hawaii.gov) will vote on his confirmation. Please spread the word."

[wax]

Richard built his farm from the ground up. He knows farming in Hawaii and what it takes to create a successful farm here. His knowledge and experience can very well inform State government in a unique way. He grows no GMO crops himself but sees the value to some farmers in some circumstances so has taken a Principled stand in defense of the proven technology that some crops require.

It is a statement about Russell Ruderman that he is not able to recognize Richard's strength and see his overall value - apparently simply seeing him as an enemy. Russell's stance tells us more about Russell than it does about Richard Ha.

[Chunkster]

This once again shows Ruderman wasting political capital on something absurd. Richard Ha is a well-respected farmer, and he has shown principled restraint in the face of some pretty wacko detractors. When Ruderman uses terms like "revulsion," he only alienates more moderate voters and tightens his alliance with the fringe.

Edited to add: It seems Ruderman was seeking to undermine Ha's nomination on the down low and didn't want the public to know he was behind the email campaign. From today's paper:

Quote - - Ruderman, who owns Island Naturals, told Stephens Media Hawaii the email was intended for those with “concerns about his appointment.” He said he did not expect the email to be seen by the general public and was not ready to make a statement on the issue.

“I think I’m shooting myself in the foot by saying anything at this point and time,” he said. - - End quote.

Uh, I think you may have already pulled the trigger, Senator.

[robguz]

Thanks, Rob. I'll be emailing all of them in support of Mr. Ha. Actual farmer vs. millionaire who sells magic tap water, disproven supplements, and processed food to poor people at wildly inflated prices. No brainer which side to take on this.

[opihikao]

FYI: Now this is main stream local TV news media (HawaiiNewsNow):

(*Snipped - Link includes video interview)

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/25085...-appointee


HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -
Big Island state Sen. Russell Ruderman believes the State Department of Agriculture would be better off if Hamakua farmer Richard Ha was left off the Board of Agriculture.

"My concern is he has expressed some antagonism towards the organic industry, and he's extremely pro GMO," Ruderman said.

"He can say that but that doesn't make it true," Ha said.

Recently Ruderman sent out a private email that someone leaked to the Hawaii Tribune Herald.

"If any of you share my revulsion at Richard Ha being appointed to the State Ag Board, it's not too late to do something," he wrote.

Ha believes the email is inflammatory.

"It was a poor choice of words and possibly inciting people," he said.

Ruderman also wrote that "if each senator gets 100 emails in opposition this will not fly."

The Senate Agriculture Committee is handling Ha's hearing. Committee chairman Clarence Nishihara said Ruderman went behind his back.

"There's a number of all of us that would not do that as a matter of practice, to go and send out emails to people saying, 'Hey, bring down someone,'" he said.

Ha was appointed to the Agriculture Board in 2010. He's up for another term. He supports the science behind GMOs as a means to food security.

"My agenda is try to lower cost for the farmers as well as the customers of those farmers," Ha said.

Ruderman owns health food stores on the Big Island that sell organic food. He said he didn't intend his email as a personal attack on Ha.

"He's a good person. I like him personally, and I deeply regret my choice of words. And I apologize to him for using any unpleasant words," he said.

How Ruderman's words might affect the Ha's status could surface Thursday when Ha goes before the Agriculture committee.

[Chunkster]

Clarence Nishihara's remarks show us that this may well backfire and cause more support and respect for Richard Ha than he might otherwise have had. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the committee reacts and votes. It might also show us how far Russell Ruderman's influence extends with his peers. Stay tuned.

Edited to add: Thanks once again to Opihikao for adding the latest news reference to this discussion. You impress me greatly with the breadth of your information gathering!

[kalakoa]

quote:

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Clarence Nishihara's remarks show us that this may well backfire and cause more support

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect