The State Ethics Commission’s latest enforcement action certainly comes at an inopportune for Carleton Ching, who is Gov. David Ige’s controversial nominee to head the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
The commission publicly disclosed its findings into failure of the Land Use Research Foundation and its executive director, David Arakawa, to file lobbyist registrations and expenditure statements with the commission over a period of years.
The commission found that Arakawa had lobbied on behalf of LURF from 2008 through 2014, and for most of that time was not registered as a lobbyist. During three years falling within the applicable statute of limitations, Arakawa and LURF each failed to file nine expenditure reports disclosing what was spent, if anything, on lobbying.
Ching served as a director and officer of LURF through most or all of this period. As a registered lobbyist for Castle & Cooke, Ching should have been familiar with Ethics Commission requirements applicable to lobbying organizations and lobbyists. The organization’s failure to comply over a period of years certainly does not demonstrate Ching’s attention to such legal details, and could be another “distraction” as the Ige administration seeks to obtain the Senate’s backing for the nomination.
Click here to read the Ethics Commission’s findings, issued February 2, 2015.
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Looks like Ching’s not much of a manager, in addition to his other shortcomings. Maybe being a nice guy isn’t enough.
David Arakawa has always strutted around the Lege like he’s a 5th floorer.
Quick to advise you what a hot shot lawyer he used to be when he was C&C…..” Never lost a case !” His excuse is facile and disingenuous.
Good to see him humbled, if not sincerely at least in the publics eye.
However, I really doubt that many Board members of any organization scroll through the Registered Lobbyist roll to make sure their lawyer/ED is complying with this law. I’m sure they relied on him to comply with any and all laws and perhaps they’ll hold him accountable for his arrogance and replace him. He’s certainly embarrassed LURF and caused harm to Ching.
And the Bad Timing Award goes to …..
I guess he deserves a slap on the wrist for not filling out the form, but it’s not like his work for LURF was some kind of secret. Should have erred on the side of caution though.
Reminds how weird it was when Caldwell announced a while back that Arakawa would resume his job as Corporation Counsel, then Arakawa bowed out a couple weeks later for “personal reasons.”
It’s hard to believe the City Council would have held up the appointment of such a developer-friendly guy, so who knows?
It was weird too when the director of Community Services abruptly departed for personal reasons precisely two weeks after Caldwell announced his goofy plan for a homeless kennel on a contaminated patch of Sand Island. Seems like there was a story there somewhere. And whatever happened to that plan?
This is manini compared to LURF’s “accomplishments” . LURF is the modern incarnation of the Big 5 and seriously opposed to the public interest.
Most have never heard of LURF since their lobbying is backdoor stuff working to manipulate the process at the Legislature.
Below are few of the LURF “accomplishments”
*LURF fought hard to convince the U.S. Fish and Wild Life Service to reduce critical habitat designations and mandated conservation areas.
*LURF successfully lobbied to reduce requirements for developer applicant reviews by the State Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR/SHPD).
*LURF successfully lobbied to require the Department of Health (DOH) to delete various protections involving native Hawaii rights, historic preservation, coastal zone management and environmental impact reviews for storm water management permits.
*LURF actively opposed the requirement of landowners to provide lateral access along the coast line.
“. . . doubt that many Board members of any organization scroll through the Registered Lobbyist roll to make sure their lawyer/ED is complying with this law.” In this particular case, the organization was also supposed to be registered as a lobbyist. If the board members did not at least ask whether it was filed, they weren’t doing their jobs.