Former Council Chair and Communications Director for U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka Announces Candidacy
After serving as U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka’s communications director for more than six years, former City Councilman Jon Yoshimura returned to Hawaii last year to join the clean energy movement. Today, he expressed his desire to expand his service to the people of Honolulu by declaring his intention to run in the special election to fill the Honolulu City Council District VI seat recently held by his former Akaka co-worker, Tulsi Gabbard.
John Yoshimura and his wife Yuki
“The people of Hawaii have chosen well in their resounding support for Tulsi Gabbard. She has actively served District VI with honor and integrity that I will continue,” said Yoshimura.
Honolulu District VI includes Makiki, Downtown Honolulu, Punchbowl, Liliha, Pauoa Valley, Nuuanu, Alewa Heights, Papakolea, Kalihi Valley, and a portion of Kalihi. If elected, Yoshimura would fill the remaining two years of Gabbard’s term. A special election will be held in conjunction with the general election on Tuesday, November 6.
“This is an election for a two-year term. There is no time to learn on the job,” said Yoshimura. “Having served two full terms, eight years on the City Council, I have the experience and the passion to serve the people of District VI.”
A lawyer and former television reporter, Yoshimura was first elected to the Honolulu City Council in 1994. His Council colleagues called upon him to serve as council chair from 1999 to 2002, during which time he lead the Council’s effort to renew Waikiki, including the successful Waikiki Beach Walk project.
Yoshimura was also the author of two City Charter amendments, overwhelmingly approved by Honolulu voters in 2002, that created the Office of the City Auditor and set renewable five-year terms for the Honolulu Police Chief. “I believe both strengthened government accountability and that’s good for the people of Honolulu,” said Yoshimura.
Within his Council district, Yoshimura actively supported community policing teams, initiated annual work days in Papakolea, worked to protect the interests of senior citizens, was a key figure in the revitalization of Honolulu’s Downtown-Chinatown corridor.
But Yoshimura’s rising political career was marred by a 1999 drinking and driving incident in which he left the scene after hitting a parked car. Humiliated and embarrassed, Yoshimura publicly apologized for his mistake and readily accepted his suspension from practicing law for six months for lying to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. Since then he has spoken out about the negative effects of drinking and driving.
“Professionally, I did a lot of things I’m proud of. But personally, I made mistakes that I’m ashamed of. While I regret the gross error of judgment, it has proven to be one of the biggest and most important lessons in my life,” said Yoshimura. “Ten years have passed since I left the City Council. I’ve learned a lot, matured, gained wisdom working for one of Hawaii’s most beloved public servants, and the passion for public service still burns in my heart.”
Yoshimura returned to the islands last year to accept a position as an executive with SolarCity, a national leader in clean energy services with local operations in Mililani.
Filed under: aloha, Announcements, County Council, Hawaii, Oahu, Politics | Tagged: Daniel Akaka, Honolulu City Council, Honolulu City Council Special Elections, Jon Yoshimura, Tulsi Gabbard | Leave a Comment »
Congressional Candidate Marx Calls Out Hannemann for Missing Debates
Bob Marx, a small business owner in Hilo and candidate for Hawaiʻi’s Second Congressional District attended a debate on Maui sponsored by the Sierra Club and Akaku Cable.
“Actually living in the district has given me a perspective that my opponents simply don’t have.”
Fellow candidates Esther Kia’aina and Tulsi Gabbard were present, but Mufi Hannemann was again absent. This marks the second public forum that Hannemann has missed. During the debate, participants responded to questions ranging from their stance on the economic crisis affecting America to how they would best fill the position synonymous with former Second District congresswoman Patsy Mink.
Marx noted that “this race keeps getting painted as a two way race between Gabbard and [Hannemann]…but he doesn’t show up for debates, and she just tells people what they want to hear.” During the debate, Marx passionately responded to questions involving the state of the economy and the process of economic recovery. “We need to re-evaluate the way we manage our budgets,” Marx said. “First we need to cut waste, then we need to establish strict oversight to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Only then can we adopt incentive programs to spur growth.”
As a supporter of local farming and agriculture, Marx is an adamant supporter of providing small farms with low-interest loans and appropriate funds for disaster relief. Unlike Gabbard and Hannemann, Marx has been a thirty year resident of the second district. “Actually living in the district has given me a perspective that my opponents simply don’t have.”
Despite his candidates receiving endorsements and contributions from a myriad of groups, Marx responded: “It doesn’t matter who or what gives them money—I am running because I am sick of exactly the type of politics they are participating in. Will their endorsements and resources change the fact that they are beholden to the interests that provide them? [I] don’t think so.”
Marx will be attending the North Hawaiʻi Candidate Forum at Waimea School Thursday evening at 5pm, along with other candidates Rafael Del Castillo, Tulsi Gabbard, Mufi Hannemann, and Esther Kia’aina.
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Filed under: Politics, State Affairs, Hawaii, Announcements, Guest Commentator | Tagged: Mufi Hannemann, Sierra Club, Patsy Mink, Congressional Candidate Bob Marx, Tulsi Gabbard | Leave a Comment »