Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Musings: Dig In 2

Today we have another installment of the interesting stuff that turns up during a dig-through of Kauai campaign finance reports.

I compared Councilman Ross Kagawa and Gary Hooser, since the antipathy between the two is palpable. They represent, respectively, the blue and the red, the pro-ag vs the anti-GMO.

And, as it turns out, Westside and North Shore, local and haole.

A perusal of contributors reveals that Kagawa's support base is local, while virtually everyone giving money to Gary Hooser is not.

Ross collected contributions primarily from Kapaa to Kekaha, with just one donor in Kilauea. Gary's money came almost exclusively from the Kapaa-Hanalei region, with few westside contributors.

This is interesting because Ross voted against the pesticide-GMO regulatory Bill 2491, which Gary introduced supposedly to protect Westsiders from the agricultural practices of the seed companies.

So I think we again see evidence that the demand for buffer zones and pesticide disclosure is NOT coming from the people at the much ballyhooed “ground zero.”

Ross collected $7,830 in the small donations that qualified for matching contributions. Just $360 of that amount came from off-island. Gary collected $7,910 eligible for matching contributions, with $1,145 coming from other islands.

Overall, Gary raised $58,123, plus put in another $16,853 of his own money, for a whopping total of $74,976. Of that, $9,644 came from off-island. Gary is down to $8,789 in his coffers.

Ross raised $30,536, with $8,644 coming from off-island. He has $21,172 left. 

In the last election, Ross came in second, with 12,387 votes. Gary was seventh, or last, with 8,257 votes.

Just above him, in sixth place, was Mason Chock, with 8,730 votes.

A review of Mason's records — he also collected $3,104.50 in qualifying contributions — shows that he and Gary share many of the same donors. 

Which raises the question, how likely is it that Gary's supporters will follow his directive to “plunk” —vote only for him — if it means leaving Mason out in the cold?

And will Gary's $74,976 war chest, which tops everyone else running for Council, be enough to buy him a spot on the panel — especially when Ross, Derek Kawakami, Mel Rapozo and Arryl Kaneshiro are guaranteed to win seats?

43 comments:

Anonymous said...

I pray NOT!

nocanswim said...

Don't think Gary's campaign coffers will pull him through this election, certainly not from my non-vote.

Anonymous said...

No amount of money could convince me to vote for Hooser.

Anonymous said...

I don't like Gary or any other politician for that matter but writing that he came in last in the last election is a boldface lie. You spin your words to fit your narrative. You are exactly what you cry about. A liar trying to help your side win.!

Joan Conrow said...

Uh, he obviously didn't come in dead last or he wouldn't have been elected. But he was indeed last among the Council. Gee, hysterical much, 10:01?

Anonymous said...

Gary was out in Hanapepe holding his sign this morning. I was watching while eating my breakfast. I counted at least 3 middle fingers and a couple Fuck you's in the short time I was there. Curious to see if he goes further west as he's obviously not very well received out here.

Anonymous said...

As Carnac the Magnificent (old Johnny Carson skit) predicts, here are your 2016 Council election results:

#1 Kawakami
#2 Kaneshiro
#3 Rapozo
#4 Kagawa
#5 Brun
#6 Apalla
#7 Yukimura

Derek will be the Chair and Arryl will be the Vice Chair, which will finally restore some semblance of decorum to this body. Angry Mel will lose steam and be relegated to finding a job for his former flame Shaylene. Maybe the next auditor or a deputy prosecutor. Ross will finally get that IQ doesn't mean the line formed in front of the Apple Store (i-Queue), and will start losing votes simply because he has a limited intelligence. Arthur gets a leg up from Ross and Mel as these are basically the same constituency, and will be enough to carry him in as a new councilmember. And, with Hillary Clinton taking the White House, there's a movement to get more women in government which lifts Juno-Ann into slot #6 and helps JoAnn fend off Gary, Kipukai, and Mason for the last seat.

It will be grating to listen to Yukimura run on and on about housing, transportation, and the amount of pay police officers make ... but I think the rest of this body actually might start getting back to servicing the community at large by fixing our roads and public parks.

Anonymous said...

I'll be plunking for Kawakami, Kaneshiro, and Kuali`i -- but definitely NOT for Da Hoos.

Anonymous said...

10:29 Are you sure the people weren't paying homage to Gary and thanking him for hiring our latest and greatest democratic delegate Chelsea Lyons Kent? Were there no "bite me" comments from the commuters?

John Kauai said...

I found the contribution amounts to be interesting. Usually $100 with a few $15 for both candidates. Just wondering what kind of economic position the contributors are in and whether or not they represent the part of the island they live on. Or are they "better off" than the average voter. In any case, the average contribution was well above $27. ;-)

WRT Chelsea's finger, I was disappointed to see it. But at the same time, her defense in today's TGI op-ed has some merit to it in that there were no alternatives to expressing how Clinton manipulated the convention and controlled it. The DNC really had a "battle plan" that would squash any discontent from the Sanders delegates. My point is not to condone "the bird" but to refute the TGI assertion that she had another way of expressing herself. (It was kind of a dumb op-ed.)

We surely live in interesting times.

Anonymous said...

Kawakami, Rapozo, Kualii and Chock should be in jail but that's another subject

Kagawa reminds me of Dubya.

Yukimura is like that fly you can't get rid of that's a Gemini that is two faced.

Kaneshiro "where my kids going live" is just like daddy.

Brun should just wear wife beaters to the debate(s).

Doctor "I ain't really a Dr" Sparks should get the Pilipino bote but is it enough?

Fukushima is a nice guy but doesn't have a chance against the good ol boys and gals club.

The rest are just side shows to the "oh yeah" main event.

Let's all just walaau and drink beer with Dickie because same ol same ol nothing to see because nothing will be done by these lame duck council members.

After elections you better BET on more taxes to fund the Mayor's overbloated county welfare check budget.

Together we can... Together we can...




Anonymous said...

it's really sad that you characterize ross as blue shirt, pro ag----are you sure about that?
You sure he doesn't eat as much organic foods as his family can purchase? Are you sure that he wasn't trying to help the westsiders with the dust/pesticide problems? If you can assure me that he is a gmoer, many westsiders will be interested in your take . . . and then he will lose my vote. You also must understand the strong family ties, WHS graduate, baseball star status that westsiders cling to . . . . . never mind about the issues, blood is thicker than water over this side!!!!

Anonymous said...

10:32 your predictions are stupid so are you so shut the hell up or put your damn name in if you have the guts! No you're just a hopeless coward right?

Anonymous said...

10:32 prediction is almost there but Ross will come in directly under Brun not above him. People are tired of his antics getting all Hoo Hoo whenever Hooser pulls on his chain a little.

Anonymous said...

You mean a coward just like you (12:32) for calling someone out anonymously. I find humor is these predictions; but sadly, even if there is a shake up in Council and we do happen to get some fresh faces, I doubt there will be any meaningful change. The system is broken beyond repair and the government unions control the budget ... not Council.

Anonymous said...

12:45. Ross ain't dropping behind Brun, are you serious? People are tired of you, look in the mirror.

Anonymous said...

1:00. You sound so unhappy, move, please!

Anonymous said...

Kawakami
Kagawa
Kaneshiro
Rapozo
Chock
Kualii
Brun
Yukimura
Doctor Sparks
Apalla
Fukushima
Hooser
Bernabe

Lifelong resident, I've met and talked to all of them except one, and feel that this is where its gonna end up.

Anonymous said...

I too "born and raised...here all my life" tend to agree with 3:06 but not necessarily in that order but top seven yes....

Anonymous said...

Da Hoos still has to come to grips with how he dumped Ms Lyons. I have known that Gary was a liar for years. I have also known that Gary never made friends while he was at the Senate. He was known at the Square Building as only out for himself. But it still disturbs me that Da Hoos and his sonny, Dylan both have left Chesea Lyons out in the cold. Real men do not abandon their friends, workers and Ohana.
As far as Ross and Da hoos contributions. These are a portrait of what this island is becoming.
Like Fern, Gary and his newcomer and/or rich NS contributors all share the same thinking...Locals are too stupid to understand the dangers of Big Ag. Locals need to be taught and need leadership. Locals are scary, but need to be tolerated.

Over the years I have watched as Da Hoos and many of his supporters like Marty Kahn and the the Browers got rich from tourism and construction. For some reason...even after living here for decades Da Hoos and these types of his friends have not learned that the Locals are pretty smart folks.
A line is drawn at Aliomanu Estates...from there North live a strange group of newcomers that have arisen. they have big bucks, big egos and a bizarre concept that the Locals need their help.
One issue, GMO...As you have so clearly pointed out Ms Joan, the folks that are most effected by Big Ag, support Big Ag.
Great Gawd Almighty...bring back the days when the newcomers shut the f*ck up and were grateful; to be able to live here.
It is thru the openness and acceptance that the white surfer/Hippies weren't given the skidaddle 40 years ago. And now these Hippies are rich and share the other elite 'better than thou" attitudes of the NS rich pseudo-organic-Ag supporting As*holes.
The split is here. A geographic line.
And Da Hoos may get elected...$60,000 in donations? Holy Cat Killing Sabedong Spraying Jehovah, Batman...have we all gone crazy? 60 thousand buckareenies for Da Hoos to continue his one-man quest for greatness?
The difference is that Mel, Arryl, Kipukai, Derek, Nadine, Kouchi, Tokioka, Kagawa, Brun et al, care about everyone. They are not one-issue people.They even care about the NS foulmouths. Thy will work for the betterment of everyone in the community.
Sure, the island has room for improvement, as we spend 200 million per year and only have a few bus stops to show for it, but the vitriol and condescending attitudes of Da Hoos and his acolytes toward the locals, makes me want to go punch someone out.
But that's OK. I are one big-ugly-mean looking buggah with a big family, so Justin will let me off.
Gary---there really are some smart locals out there. Spend a day with Nadine and learn. Show gratitude and Love Gary....it will carry you much further that arrogance, braggadocio and smarm.

Anonymous said...

Good lord psychic Cleo ain't been gone for a week and now we have all of Kauai's psychics coming out of kalalau making predictions.

This is for all of you Kauai psychics; can your powers tell me what's the next lottery winning numbers?

I'm tired of eating spam and Vienna sausage. I need me some EBT meat and two shopping carts of them with gold bracelets on both wrists and a nice new 60K truck with bling and free subsidized rent without the kids. Is that too hard to ask for?

Call 1-800- Kauai Psychic Friends network for your future is in their hands. All for 4 easy payments of $99.99 without the GE tax because it's nonprofit or not for profit.

Thank you very much! You all come back now yah heard me.

No collect calls accepted and read the fine print and if you cannot read and comprehend then apply for a Kauai county job position. You'll be hired then interviewed a year after you've been cruising. It's ok because the Kauai county is union represented.

Anonymous said...

Hooser will retain his seat.

Anonymous said...

Re Hooser retain...
unlikely

Anonymous said...

Hooser is gone. He represents no one but retirees who leave Princeville after 10 years and mainland interests. Interests that are focused on destroying ag across America one county at a time. We are not the only ones.Oregon, Washington, CA, Maine. All are being turned into empty waste lands by these groups.

Anonymous said...

The thing that is really going to make Ross go balistic is he will drop two notches and Hooser will climb up at least one. Not just retain but improve.

Anonymous said...

All I know is when I asked Hooser if I could discuss a community problem with him after the last election, he said he had no time. First time I asked for my group ever.
Everybody else took the call or dropped by.

Anonymous said...

8:14. Yeah keep hoping and praying that's all you got. Election trends don't lie, Hooser will follow Bynum out the door. That's a fact.

Anonymous said...

Here's my take on this post. IN GENERAL, Caucasian are for Loosher and locals are of Ross. No one wants to talk about race, but here's more stats for you. Loosher came in very strong in Koloa, kalaheo n up north (Caucasian areas). Ross did decent from anahola, better in kapaa and good through rest of the island from lihue on.

This blog got some changed minds of some newbies up north but how much, is the question.

Groups holding signs (local style) has a mix pot of every race for each group. Which is nice to see the melting pot working together.

I saw Gabbard's group on Friday last week. AT THE TIME I PASSED, 4:30 or so, all Caucasian n 1 asian. One thing for sure! Weren't the locals. Then again this was a general observation.

Posting 1 though 14, chances of it coming true? Not likely. Like the post earlier, picking numbers for the lottery! 1 in couple millions / billions.

Grumbling with each other on who is first second, no need for that, just campaign hard n hope for the best. If not we all like Kent (sore loosher).

My hopes (and Ms. Joan's) is that the good people of this island won't vote for a lair, a community divider, a person who is only for himself. And of lates, a person who abandoned the fox hole when the heat was on, not a true friend. To me he's not a respectful leader and there's a lot of voters saw his bad actions since 2491.
Am I wrong! Well nothing found in the JFFG, n the state will do the studies now, no thanks to him.

I don't care who's 1 - 7. I do care that we the people don't vote for a blatant lair and a community divider. THAT's not what kauai is.

Hump day tomorrow! To great weekend for all of us in paradise. Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

This column's tone implies that local votes are more valid and worthy than non-local votes. But can someone please define "local" for me? Is it a race thing? Does that mean someone Caucasian, born and raised on-island, is not local?

Who is more local: an Asian who has lived on-island for 40 years, or a Caucasian who has lived on-island for 40 years, or a native Hawaiian who was born and raised in Alaska but moved to Kauai a few years ago?

I'm trying to figure out who the most worthy and valid people are on-island.

thanks for any input.

Joan Conrow said...

@10:47. No, this post's tone did not imply local votes are more worthy. That's your own takeaway, so own it.

Anonymous said...

I'll bet donuts to dollars that Hooser drops down out of sight,of course only to work for CFS. Ross vote numbers will still be up there, maybe just after Derek. Gary needs to worry. At least one member will change as Derek will for sure get high votes. In the last election the last place pick was Gary and he did such a poor job this term, his numbers have surely dropped. Maybe one other old face at the council at the most will change. Will Brun be able to oust JoAnn? Usually her voters are solid and so fond of her, she will be fine. Gary it seems must be sweating.

Anonymous said...

@10:32 good picks but Derek will not be the chair he is too weak. we will be the same as Jay with passing bad laws

Anonymous said...

Simple, if you're grown here, you local. If you flown here, you not.

Anonymous said...

How about Joan? Is Joan local?

Joan Conrow said...

No, I'm not.

Anonymous said...

As a local, I, 3:06, declare Joan, LOCAL. My anonymous endorsement counts just as much as the governor's, mayor's, or any of those hundreds of fistees, or other locals. MAHALO ;}

Anonymous said...

9:55 What? Eight generations born and raised, still one Haole. Flown here, grown here or blown here, your Kauai ID is the color of your skin.
Viva Mexico....Fifa Syria.

John Kauai said...

First, it isn't fair to restrict me to only 4096 characters. :-)
So this is in two parts;

I don't think I've ever been a local. Even in the town I was born in since we moved when I was 3. I spent the next 14 years going through one school system. After that: 4 years in Colorado; 1 year in West Texas; 4 months in Central Texas; 3 years back in West Texas; 2 months in New Mexico; 3 months in Florida; 3 years on Oahu; 2 months in New Mexico; 6 months in Florida; 3 years in California; 7 years in Colorado (in 4 different towns); 15 years in Santa Cruz; 8 years on Kauai (From which I don't believe I'll be moving.)

What does that make me?

Can't I just be a Human Being?

I believe corporations lie. All corporations. Doesn't matter if they are doing Ag or computer networking or whatever.

I believe the 1% work against the best interests of all of humanity. Some because they don't care. Some because they don't feel they have a choice. Some because they don't know any better.

I believe the Hawaiian people were screwed when Capt. Cook arrived. But I don't believe that the Haole could have taken over without the collaboration of the Hawaiian monarchy. And now it gets really complicated because so many Hawaiians are Christian and without Christianity the Hawaiian Monarchy could not have betrayed their constituents.

But I don't see how the Hawaiians were screwed over any more than all the Blacks in Africa. Or the Native American Indians (isn't it hilarious that they are called "Indians" when India is half a globe away?)

Or for that matter my ancestors. I can trace my heritage back all the way to Nebraska in 1850. (/s) Why they ended up there, I sure don't know. But I do know they had no possibility to prosper if they remained in Europe. Perhaps because of something like when England practiced primogeniture where the first-born son inherited everything and the rest of the siblings were screwed.

I went to the Marine Monument hearings last night. (Not being Hawaiian, I'm not about to try to spell out its name). I was very impressed with those who claimed Hawaiian ancestry during their testimony. They made (mostly) effective arguments against the monuments approval. They pulled me over to their side. (NOTE: "side" in this case is very nebulous in that it is so fluid because no one really knows what the proposed expansion is all about. One can pick and choose among various claims made, but most seem to agree it was a scam being run by the Navy, which Keith Robinson totally supports but is somehow against the expansion. Very confusing.)

OTOH, I've found a lot of "locals" are incapable of performing the minimum requirements of holding down a $15/hour job. I've been asking for the last year, "What do we do about these people?" mostly to be greeted with accusations of not being "local" or being a racist as if the people I'm talking about don't exist. I want to assure you that I thought my contractor was exaggerating when he talked about this group of "incompetents", so you should imagine my amazement to discover its truth.

The division between local and "other" are often artificial -- made up by individuals who want to turn us against one another; or made up by individuals who have a limited following and they want to keep it (or, being generous, feel that only they can "lead their people out of Egypt".)

I am sorry that there is no conclusion to this "rant".

I just want to belong to the "Church of the Rodney King". (Why can't we all, just, get along?)

I just want to be accepted for being human. If it seems like I'm calling you "dumb" because I provide information that is different from your "story", I'm not. I'm just pointing out that there is a different way of looking at it.

cont.

John Kauai said...

part 2

My apologies for any duplicates:


OTOH, I've found a lot of "locals" are incapable of performing the minimum requirements of holding down a $15/hour job. I've been asking for the last year, "What do we do about these people?" mostly to be greeted with accusations of not being "local" or being a racist as if the people I'm talking about don't exist. I want to assure you that I thought my contractor was exaggerating when he talked about this group of "incompetents", so you should imagine my amazement to discover its truth.

The division between local and "other" are often artificial -- made up by individuals who want to turn us against one another; or made up by individuals who have a limited following and they want to keep it (or, being generous, feel that only they can "lead their people out of Egypt".)

I am sorry that there is no conclusion to this "rant".

I just want to belong to the "Church of the Rodney King". (Why can't we all, just, get along?)

I just want to be accepted for being human. If it seems like I'm calling you "dumb" because I provide information that is different from your "story", I'm not. I'm just pointing out that there is a different way of looking at it.

Global Warming is true.
Wealth distribution to the 1% vs the 'rest of us' is true.
The middle class is disappearing: true.
There are too many people in the world: true.
Politicians cannot be trusted: true.
GMO food doesn't hurt: true (mostly)
Pesticides must be used sparingly: true

Hillary Clinton often says to Sanders supporters, "there is more that unites us than divides us". Being a Sanders supporter, I think that is Bullshit.

Anonymous said...

How's Trump? Evades the draft with "foot" problems. That he got this far is insane. He's a reflection of millions of Americans and it ain't pretty. A lot of them live here!

Anonymous said...

I'm voting for Fern because she is local.

Anonymous said...

I am voting for Nadine because she is smart and ultra capable.

Anonymous said...

Trump can't help it. He was born with a silver foot in his mouth. And Fern is well placed in her current employment. There's no public benefit to furthering her slash and burn political career.