Last-minute jab
By B.J. Reyes
In the race for the 18th Senate District seat (Waipahu-Pearl City), challenger Alex Sonson is taking a last shot at incumbent Clarence Nishihara two days before the primary election.
Sonson, in a news release issued today, called on embattled Hawaii Tourism Authority Chief Executive Officer Rex Johnson to resign, while noting that Nishihara, chairman of the Senate Tourism Committee, has said little on the matter since new evidence had come to light.
Nishihara called Sonson’s statement nothing more than “political maneuvering.”
Johnson has refused to resign amid concerns raised over his alleged use of a state computer to forward pornographic, sexist and racist e-mail messages.
Sonson noted that Nishihara was among members of House and Senate leadership that initially supported Johnson. That support was voiced before it was learned that racist and sexist e-mails were included among the messages allegedly forwarded by Johnson.
Sonson said he believes Nishihara is “out of touch” with the constituency.
“I have heard from constituents in the district who want to see something done about the situation,” Sonson said in his news release.
Nishihara said he was surprised by Sonson’s comments.
“He has never showed an interest in tourism before,” Nishihara said. “I think it is just political maneuvering. I think my original position still stands. I said it was up to the board to decide.”
Gov. Linda Lingle also has called on Johnson to resign or to have the HTA board remove him, saying he “is not a person of the kind of character we want to lead the agency that’s responsible for promoting our state’s most important industry.”
The HTA allowed Johnson to keep his job but slashed $40,000 from his $240,000 annual salary. He also was issued a verbal and written reprimand.
