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Politics
Politics Wednesday
09Apr
Joseph quits Ethics Board for Council run
Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at 07:49PM Wayne "Big Dog" Joseph is clearing his path to run for the Fifth District Council seat against incumbent Emily Naeole.
Joseph today resigned from the chairman's seat of the county Ethics Board, a post he has held since 2004. For good measure. Joseph also resigned from the board of the Big Island Press Club, which he joined in January, and he will no longer be writing freelance articles for the local press although he may continue writing his weekly column of running for the Hawaii Tribune-Herald, which he said he contributes to the newspaper without compensation to promote the sport that he's so passionate about.
The 60-year-old Hawaiian Paradise Park resident has run more than 40 marathons and is still entering the 26-plus mile foot races.
I've already looked at this Council race in some depth here. Joseph, however, today issued statements saying he aims to "represent all the people of Puna regardless of race or religious orientation." Asked whether that's aimed at Naeole, Joseph backed away and said he intends to make an "earnest effort not to criticize" his opponents personally in the campaign. He only hopes to give voters a "good, distinctive choice" among candidates.
Joseph also responded to criticism that he initiated ethics charges against Naeole as recently as December by saying the record shows he's taken a "pro-active watchdog" role on the Ethics Board for the entire community in his term on the board, and that he was instrumental in producing a pair of bills currently before the County Council that would allow the Ethics Board to levy fines against ethics violators and to restrict the use of county-paid advertising in election seasons.
Joseph also supplied me with several campaign statements that I've posted here. Notable among his positions is opposition to the County's proposed waste-to-energy incinerator plans.
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Reader Comments (5)
That alone speaks strongly in his favour. Woof! And good luck.
He was a good coach, is a sound reporter and writer and seems to know the English language. That would be a plus on this present council.
More important, perhaps, he has cut his ties with groups and agencies that would not well be served by a candidate seeking pubolic office. We all benefit from his sound judgment, which also is missing with many current council folks today.I have a suspicion he would be open in office as he has been in his many other roles.
In my discussions with Wayne, I explained that 4-lanes for Highway 130 was definitely not something I could support. The reason: widening highways has proven to be an expensive, short-term relief for congestion, with traffic just as congested within 5 years or less of completion of a 3-year widening project. We can and must do better.
Nevertheless, it is encouraging to see the campaign for this Council District attracting community-minded people like Emily and Wayne -- either of whom is better than plenty of other folks in this District and others who have previously been on Council, hinted at running, and/or already filed.
...somehow, I still believe in democracy.
50 against and 7 for, really?
Oh yes, we are suppose to be on the Wayne thing, but I had to give you hugs.
Personally, if Wayne cared so much for Puna his email address would read punabigdog@yadayada and not waiakeabigdog@yadayada. And that "big dog" thing...he might want to get over that. It truly conveys his arrogance. Who the heck would vote for someone who calls himself "big dog"?