Higa drawn to harassment claims
Councilman Stacy Higa testified under subpoena at a grievance hearing but a story about it in Friday’s Hawaii Tribune-Herald is light on some of the details, such as who the grievance was filed against and for what.
The story never says why Higa was subpoenaed to testify, but it’s a fairly strong inference from the placement of the story that he's the target of the complaint. Though maybe not. The article mentions that the accuser, Melissa Chang, also worked for former Councilman James Arakaki.
No matter. With Higa’s record, just another association with something like this can’t be good for the mayoral campaign. Higa and harassment seem to attract like gum to a slipper.
There was the incident with Matthew Binder at the Isbell fundraiser in which cross charges of harassment were filed (I don’t know if that was resolved). There was the incident in which he was accused of harassing Gary Safarik’s aide, which came to nothing. And Higa himself reported harassing phone calls from a Waimea man. Right or wrong, innocent or not, these things sometimes just pile up as negatives -- sort of unbecoming of a mayor -- and may not translate well to the ballot box. Not when candidates more appealing are running.
The sketchiness of the story might be attributable to the secrecy of the proceeding before a federal administrative law judge who invoked the “Federal Privacy Act” in barring the Tribune-Herald’s Alan Schnepf from the courtroom. I’m looking forward to Schnepf's follow-up.
Hunter Bishop
in Politics, Commentary
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Reader Comments (5)
"We the sensi of Hawaii County have come to realize that when the public learn of things which are issues that can be embarrassing to VIP's and no matter how many times I write the legal position it still remains embarrassing then I will, by the powers which I have learned to misuse, make non determination the best for public information."
Further.
In light of the mounting interest in the non sex scandal not involving several VIP.s I will ad hoc quid not. In addition should any media employee persist with phone calls or questions of any of the VIP.s or their staffs non involvement then I will have the recourses available to me and exercise them. So then let it be known ....(in non legal terms) I will call your editor and get you in big kim chee."
All citizens are required to pretend that you have no right to public disclosure of any information related to the non sex scandal not involving former and current VIP's. This office will monitor all media and tell the mayor to take any and all reporters off of the next invitation all expenses paid Resort Crisis weekend golf Workshop quid pro haste."
As something other than an ignorant bystander -- that is, during the time frame in question, I was simultaneously a co-worker (in the same professional role) of the complainant and a Council employee subject to the 'power' of the accused -- I avow that everything I saw and experienced about that work environment, especially the then-Council Chair's behavior, during that period would correlate quite well with the charges made.
Furthermore, I would plea for respect toward the complainant in this situation during and after the process.
It is surely alot to contend with for such a brilliant and energetic young person to give up a good job where good jobs are few, seek psychiatric treatment to cope with matters not of her own doing, and expose herself to the trauma of public examination and legal proceedings.
...you had to be there to believe it...