Integrity, public trust, and public confidence are indispensable core values and concepts of government entities that I expanded upon during my recent interview by the Hawaiʻi State Elections Commission at a hearing held on June 10 to consider applicants for the position of a new commission chair from eight applicants.
This important commission is made up of nine members with four from each party, Democratic and Republican, and are appointed by their party’s legislative leaders. No qualifications, screening, interviews, confirmations, or other criteria is required for the appointed members. The eight members of the commission select their chairperson by a two-thirds vote (six out of the eight).
At the hearing I objected to the proceeding continuing unless and until the commission disqualified two of the eight applicants who did not comply with the vacancy announcement requirement that candidates submit a timely resume as well as a letter of interest. To accept and or allow noncompliance by a government entity is not a norm that can nor should be condoned and borders on a dereliction of duty.
Although the chairman pointed this out and sought to disqualify the two non-complying applicants, the commissioners did not support his position…