Monday, November 5, 2012

Musings: Cornered

It was another chilly morning, with dew providing at least some moisture for the rain-starved plants, and mist steaming up from the pastures and even some pockets of fog, when the dogs and I went walking beneath a canopy of silver-studded black that soon enough turned pink around the edges, then orange. Before long, the sky was that washed-out, pre-dawn pale, and though the Moon, Jupiter and Venus still formed the points of an L, the stars had all faded from view.

Tomorrow we will learn which political stars have faded, and which have begun to shine, when what feels like the longest campaign in history finally ends. Fortunately, since I don't have a TV and rarely listen to the radio, I've been spared the onslaught of ads and reportage that reportedly drove one tot to tears.

Still, I imagine a few of my readers may feel the same way about my intensive coverage of Prosecutor Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho. Heck, I'm burned out on it, too. As I told a friend while extracting honey on Saturday, “This is a lot more satisfying than writing shit about Shaylene.”

Then why do you do it?” he asked.

Because I've just felt like I should.”

I don't have anything against Shaylene personally, because I don't even know her. And I'm not doing it because I'm expecting, or wanting, anything from her opponent, Justin Kollar, should he win. But as I started digging stuff up about Shay, I felt strongly that people should know. 

Besides, for a reporter, following a juicy story is kinda like a pig dog following a scent — you just keep going until you either lose the trail, or corner the prey.

So here we are. And tomorrow the voters will decide whether she goes down, or is allowed to root and rut and trample for another four years.

In the meantime, I can't resist passing along a few little tidbits, like the sad story of an eastside man who signed up for the POHAKU program and paid his $200 bucks. When Shay cancelled the program amid scrutiny of the contract and other concerns, he was told to seek a refund from Strategic Justice Partners, which supposedly runs the program. Except Kirk Barrus, president of SJP, isn't returning his phone calls. Hey, maybe Shay's first deputy, Jake Delaplane, could kick down the cash. After all, he is the business agent for SJP.

And in what can best be described as an act of political desperation — some might say suicide — Shay was reportedly attempting to bust Mayor Bernard Carvalho last Friday for allegedly stealing gas, an issue that surfaced this past July.

As I first heard it, Shay and Police Chief Darryl Perry had arrested the mayor. Whoa! Big drama! So I immediately contacted county spokeswoman Beth Tokioka, who replied, “No, they haven't.” But my sources were adamant that something was going down. So I contacted Beth again and asked, did the mayor turn himself in, or is this totally off base?

No, he wasn't arrested and he didn't turn himself in,” Beth emailed back Friday afternoon. “He's been in meetings or in his office for most of the day and is still there now.”

Meanwhile, I had contacted Chief Perry. On Saturday morning, he emailed this response:

With respect to your question, no, the Mayor was not arrested as you probably know by now.  While there has been a tremendous amount of speculation, I cannot comment on any on-going investigation, but what I can do is to assure you and the community that KPD will conduct investigations based on the facts and will not be subject to outside influences or threats that may deter us from seeking the truth. The facts are the facts and are not subject to subjective interpretations. And so we do what we can and treat everyone equitably irrespective of their stature in the community. However, we do not make the final decision on whether or not justice will prevail because we are only one segment of the Criminal Justice System.

Today, I was told that Shay reportedly had sought an arrest warrant, but no judge would sign.

Which brings me to yesterday's newspaper. In a guest commentary, Walter Lewis perpetuated the fiction that Shay and the OPA have been the target of “continuing and apparently coordinated attack by certain members of the county administration, one or two council members and the Board of Ethics.” I imagine Shay would add Circuit Court Judge Kathleen Watanabe, among others, to that list.

This prompted “pualoke” to leave the comment: 

Walter is right. Shay has been the latest victim of dirty Kauai politics. It's all about replacing her with the county attorney's hand picked deputy. Don't be fooled. We need an independent prosecutor, not one picked by the administration.”

First, there is absolutely no evidence that Justin was “picked by the administration.” After working in her office, Justin knows first-hand what Shay is all about. Furthermore, though a lot of people wanted to get rid of her, no one else was willing to run.

Second, yes, independence is a great characteristic for a prosecutor. However, Shay's reign is characterized not by independence, but alienation. A prosecutor can't possibly be effective when she has fractured relationships with attorneys, judges and top county officials, been the subject of four EEOC complaints and is currently being sued by a Councilman and deputy prosecutor.

As one attorney described it, “It's like a Disney movie, where it gets all dark at the end, and then the sun comes out and the grass starts growing again and people starting singing some popular song. That's what it will be like at the courthouse when Shay loses. Everybody will be singing and dancing.”

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mr. Lewis is suffering from the same affliction that other Shay supporters/apologists suffer from. Severe Disconnection from reality! His acts of omission are incredible. Does he really mean to say that the BOE is collectively engaged in a "coordinated attack" against OPA? Talk about over the top! Tomorrow this long slow motion nightmare should be over unless Kauai voters are sheep and I don't think they are.

Anonymous said...

"Ding dong" indeed... Thanks Joan.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your "pig dog" determination to root out 'evil'. TGI has been way too soft and absent on these very important stories.

Anonymous said...

No respectable human being should be supporting Shaylene.

Anonymous said...

You don't want defense attorneys singing and dancing at the election of a new prosecutor. That is a bad sign.

Anonymous said...

If the mayor was stealing gas, you think the prosecutor should not prosecute him? WTF?

Anonymous said...

Who said they were all defense attorneys?

Anonymous said...

If Shay is going to prosecute the mayor for stealing gas then is she also going to prosecute herself and Jake Delaplane, First Deputy, for driving County cars home for MONTHS on end? Yes, it is a crime. Will KPD investigate this?

Anonymous said...

I am an attorney. I am not a defense attorney. I will be dancing in the street if Justin wins.

Anonymous said...

Shay either hates or loves u, no in between. Watch out if u cross her ala Bynum. She is so antagonistic, divisive and defensive. I can't believe her antics against Watanabe. If the Mayor is stealing gas than there should be consequences but her motives are so vindictive that u have to question it. Abuse of government vehicles is so pervasive she better make sure her act is clean before she crosses that line.

Anonymous said...

If the Mayor really stole gas then I would want him prosecuted by a disinterested prosecutor whose motives are above reproach. That would not be the current prosecutor. If SHE charges him, then we will probably see recusal motions and vindictive prosecution motions and a big circus. And if Kollar inherits such a case, he would be wise to quickly punt it to the Attorney General.

Anonymous said...

Please....Please vote!

Anonymous said...

My guess is that Shay wins by a small margin. She has the support of some of the most dirtiest syndicate cops, the support of criminal organization on Kauai, the support of the families that are known for selling drugs and getting arrested hundreds of times for various crimes, and has a propaganda machine as in TGIF, Ken Taylor, Glenn Mickens, Mel, Walter Lewis, Charley Foster, The Real chief of Kauai, and lots of dirty corrupt people who work for the state and county offices that are unqualified.
Kauai will be known as the Devils Evil Vortex!

Anonymous said...

Whatever happens tomorrow night, may you all enjoy peace and love and live in harmony thereafter.

Anonymous said...

Joan......
after all your hard work....and the "bad juju" plus the elections....

You might benefit from an exorcism, a good massage and some time off!

Dr Shibai

Anonymous said...

Did you see Chief Perry's article in the Hawaii Reporter whining about Judge Valenciano's decision? What a crybaby! We need a new chief, one that has the backbone to stand up to the crazy woman and is not a panty.

Anonymous said...

Shaylene is not a Moral person. Shaylene cannot rule. She must not rule.

Four virtues Shaylene does not have is Wisdom, Justice, Fortitude, and Temperance. Her ambition to have total power and control of the judicial system and her devotion to people who support her even if they are criminals are the virtues she possess.

What is Kauai?

Anonymous said...

The question I have for Kauai council candidates is, if I vote for you; will you call upon all US government federal task forces to End the Corruption on Kauai?

The GOBAG Mafia has to be Destroyed!

Anonymous said...

An exorcism....OMG!Joan, your job is combat duty!

Anonymous said...

Today's (11/6) TGI has a very detailed look at Shay's $ give-away in her office.

Anonymous said...

Detailed would be if it mentioned how little Attorney experience these individuals actually have, and their actual work assignments.

Detailed would include the fact that the newly "raised" staffer just happens to be Shaylene's campaign manager AND her niece and exactly what her real duties are!

Anonymous said...

nanz is cool; she got a raise cuz she's helping her boss out. thatz how bosses do it. you kick down some appreciation for support; no news there. the raises were all legal; as department head she can do that. most of u haterz jus' like talk shit. easier for talk shit than do something about it. mickens, taylor and lewis have some insight that helps to paint the picture of corruption on kauai.regardless of who wins, it's not a pretty picture.

Anonymous said...

If the pay raise of over 30K for Charley Foster for not even a months work then there's obvious fraud, waste, and abuse by Shaylene. This is not a private sector and what could Charley had possibly done is less than a month to deserve that ridiculous amount. Rebecca Vogt does not get a pay raise because she doesn't want to let the local boys in Shaylene's clan get some action. Shaylene is sick for she hires white females into the OPA to prostitute them out to the not so secret local militia. Its no wonder that pimp was well protected on Kauai, because madam Shayme is up to the shame shenanigans. Ken and Glen are drunk from the GOBAG Koolaid so that means Jake's County Taxi is full of shit. The crap with all the pay raises, EEOC, Civil lawsuits, and all the POHAKU crimes coming from the OPA is a blessing in disguise. Vote for Change! for all will see what becomes of this.

Anonymous said...

Glenn and Ken filed an ethics complaint against the County Attorney? What next in this on going saga of Shaylene vs. Justin? These political shenanigans are disgusting. Glenn and Ken are a bit blinded by their alliance to Shay. She has tried every manuvere in the book to win this election and it turns my stomach.

Anonymous said...

I know, I saw her today and I wanted to ask her WTH are you doing! But I didn't, as I figured she would shoot me!

Anonymous said...

KOLLAR, Justin F. 14,289 60.03%
ISERI-CARVALHO, Shaylene 9,514 39.97%