Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi has kicked Camron Hurt, the director of Common Cause Hawaiʻi, off the city’s Grants in Aid Advisory Commission after Hurt publicly criticized the administration. The removal came in a short Dec. 18 letter and cuts short his service on the volunteer panel that advises the City Council on which nonprofits get city grant money. The timing, just before the next grants cycle, has raised eyebrows among good-government advocates who are now asking whether blunt talk is compatible with a mayoral appointment, as reported by Honolulu Civil Beat.
How The Ouster Went Down
According to Honolulu Civil Beat, Hurt publicly criticized Managing Director Mike Formby, accusing him of trying to coerce City Council members by suggesting district funding could be withheld. Civil Beat reports that in mid-December city staff contacted Hurt to arrange pickup of a flash drive for the upcoming awards cycle. The next day, the mayor’s brief letter arrived informing him that his services on the commission were no longer needed.
Who Hurt Is
Hurt serves as the state director of Common Cause Hawaiʻi and joined the organization in 2023, according to Common Cause Hawaiʻi. He has built a reputation as an outspoken watchdog on issues such as voting access and ethics at the Legislature. His comments about the Formby episode quickly circulated among local reporters and government reform advocates, putting him and the administration on a public collision course.
What City Hall Says
City spokesperson Ian Scheuring defended the decision in comments to Honolulu Civil Beat. “We did not believe that it was appropriate to have someone who so clearly and so vocally does not believe in the leadership of this city to continue to serve as an appointed representative of the mayor on one of our boards and commissions,” Scheuring said. The mayor’s office did not elaborate when pressed for more detail about why Hurt, specifically, was removed.
Why The Fight Over A Volunteer Seat Matters
The dismissal followed earlier reporting that a senior administration official privately warned a councilmember that appropriations for the member’s district could depend on a housing vote, an allegation first raised in December and summarized by mayor’s aide held district cash ‘hostage’. That behind-the-scenes dustup, and Hurt’s public response to it, turned what is usually a low-profile advisory appointment into a test case over political influence and transparency at Honolulu Hale.
Good-government organizations warn that removing a commissioner after he criticizes the administration could discourage other residents from serving on boards and commissions, especially if they are inclined to speak candidly about what they see. Advocates, including Common Cause Hawaiʻi, argue that the city needs clearer protections so volunteer appointees can call out potential problems without worrying that they will lose the very positions that help them oversee government…