Friends and fellow citizens, there is a sad and ugly stain upon all of us who believe in our democratic form of government, and who work hard every day to encourage others to believe and participate.

Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke recently told the world that she MIGHT be the “influential legislator” alleged to have received $35,000 in a paper bag.

As Hawai‘i waits for the next shoe to drop, the political speculation runs rampant about what’s really going on in that big square building on Beretania Street.

This is about a lot more than $35,000 in a paper bag. This is about a way of life — a “pay to play” political culture that’s been accepted by far too many people for far too long.

Government contractors, their family members, their employees and their subcontractors dump hundreds of thousands of dollars into the coffers of friendly politicians during every election cycle. Local SuperPacs, with their donors and directors hidden behind the curtain, spend millions.

It’s all for the purpose of currying favor and buying access. Sometimes the money is spent to make sure a bill does or does not pass through the process, and sometimes it’s literally to purchase an election.

Other than being mere spectators in this disjointed, slow-motion, dirty, ugly, and corrupt scene – one that often feels like an endless episode of West Wing, Island Style — what can you and I, as private citizens, actually DO about it?

Indeed, what MUST we do about it?

Our problems begin and end with leadership — and the lack of it.

And that is why we must demand that our leaders accept responsibility for this debacle of deceit and corruption. That is why we must demand that they LEAD.

Imagine, for a moment, Hawaii’s four top officials – Governor Josh Green, Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, Senate President Ronald Kouchi, and House Speaker Nadine Nakamura — standing shoulder to shoulder at the podium, expressing regrets and accepting responsibility for the status quo.

Imagine each of them pledging strong support for true campaign finance reform, publicly funded elections, the elimination of pay-to-play, and the passage of an anti-corruption “duty to report” law. Imagine each of them making a commitment to a legislative process that is transparent and inclusive.

Now, imagine all 51 Representatives and 25 Senators standing with the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, all pledging to lead us out of this mess, all promising to create a state government that makes us proud.

A true leader takes ownership of his or her mistakes, apologizes for actions or inactions that may have caused harm, learns from the experience, and takes tangible action to ensure it doesn’t happen again — and again, and again.

We need our elected leaders, to show us the way forward immediately. It’s time for them to help us rebuild confidence and faith in a political system we no longer feel we can trust.

It is our responsibility to demand that they step up and lead.

If they are unable to do so, the candidate filing deadline is June 2.

That is when you and I must step up, identify new candidates with the integrity, commitment, and vision we need, and support them through the election and beyond.

It is time to tolerate less, and expect/demand more, from our leaders.

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 –