The news cycle exploded a few days ago as Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke told the world the $35,000 in a paper bag – “influential legislator” – could be referencing her.

This of course, has sucked all the oxygen out of the room, as all Hawai‘i speculates now on what’s going to happen next.

So I wrote yesterday – The saga of $35,000 in a paper bag: What’s going to happen now in the LG’s race?

In addition to being a mere spectator in this disjointed, slow motion, dirty, ugly, and corrupt local version of West Wing on the beach – what can you and I as private citizens actually do about it?

We must start by demanding the leadership of our state government accept responsibility for this debacle and LEAD.

Imagine for a moment the 4 of them standing together at the podium – Governor Josh Green, Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, Senate President Ronald Kouchi, and House Speaker Nadine Nakamura.

Imagine each of them expressing regrets and accepting responsibility for the status quo AND pledging strong support for – true campaign finance reform, publicly funded elections, the elimination of our existing “pay to play” culture, passing into law an anti-corruption “duty to report”, and making a commitment to supporting a legislative process that is transparent and inclusive.

Imagine each of us reaching out, making a phone call, and sending an email TODAY – to these same 4 government leaders AND to our own district Representative and Senator – ultimately to all 51 Representatives and 25 Senators — asking them to LEAD.

This is what each of us must do – TODAY.

There’s a sad and ugly stain upon all of us who believe in our democratic systems and who work hard every day to encourage others to believe, and to participate.

We need our elected leaders, to take decisive action NOW to remove that stain and to rebuild confidence, faith, and trust in our political system.

If they refuse, the candidate filing deadline is June 2.

Sincerely,
Gary Hooser
Former State Senator, former Councilmember…former this and former that…but really just a regular guy trying his best to learn, grow, and do good things along the way –