I was surprised to get a mailer in which Republican Richard Fale, candidate for House District 47, claimed credit for serving on the task force “that saved Kaaawa Elementary School from being closed earlier this year.”
I have to question the truthiness of the implicit claim that his service on the task force was related to its success in saving the school.
Since we live in the district, and I participated in several meetings while the task force report was being drafted, I have an interest in Fale’s campaign claim.
While it’s true that Fale was appointed to the task force, which began work in March 2009, I think it’s fair to say that he had nothing to do with its success.
Task force minutes show Fale served only briefly. He attended just three meetings before he dropped out when his National Guard unit was deployed.
Fale was present at the third meeting of the task force, held on June 4, 2009, where he promised to “give a more detailed report at the next meeting on consolidation study.”
But that report was never done. This turned out to be the last task force meeting Fale attended before being deployed.
At about the same time, Fale was elected to the Koolauloa Neighborhood Board. He did manage to attend its July 2009 meeting, more than a month after his last participation in the school task force. But although he had time to jump into the neighborhood board’s business, I don’t believe his “more detailed report” was ever submitted to the task force, and the research was eventually done by others. Another person was appointed to take his place on the task force.
When Fale returned from deployment at the end of 2009, he immediately became active in the neighborhood board and was elected chair. However, he never attended another school task force meeting. Minutes show other concerned community members participated and contributed as volunteers during these public meetings, although they were not task force members.
When the task force report was completed, Fale did testify in favor of the report at a public hearing where comments were taken.
For the record…Fale was briefly a member of the task force, but did not return to assist in its work after his National Guard deployment ended, and as a result did not contribute to the success of the task force in saving the school.
Disclosure: I am a supporter of Rep. Jessica Wooley, who Fale is challenging in the District 47 race, and have contributed to her campaign. During the 2010 legislative session, I was a part-time session employee in her office.
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I would think it would be difficult for Wooley to point this out since the response will be that Fale was deployed and served our country.
Fale is F-grade. Fale is an ineffective Neighborhood Board Chair for the Koo’olauloa Neighborhood Board.
Olelo.org’s TY on demand shows him unprepared and rude to residents. He does not prepare for his meetings and does not follow up.
Residents and board members have a hard time putting items on the agenda unless it is something Fale want.
He and his neighborhood gang from Hawaii Reserves, BYU-H and PCC control the votes. Their presence there appears solely to push EnvisionLaie through.
If Fale wins, good luck to equal representation
and transparency.
How do you think Fale and his gang are going to handle the EnvisionLaie issue at upcoming Neighborhood Board Meeting 10-14-2010?
https://nc.csc.hawaii.gov/Report/RPT2010/20100821100736CC10394SA.html
Wheelwright, Steven
BYU
03/05/2010
$2,000.00
55-280 Kulani St.
President
$2,000.00
Laie HI 96762
Wheelwright, Margaret
None
03/05/2010
$2,000.00
55-280 Kulani St.
Housewife
$2,000.00
Laie HI 96762
Orgill, Von
BYUH
05/24/2010
$250.00
55-453 Naniloa Loop
Beaver, Eric
Hawaii Reserves Inc,
06/25/2010
$250.00
PO Box 238
President
He can and should be given credit for serving, but if he is trying to gain credit for something he did not participate in then he should be called on it.
Yes, he participated some. But he did not produce.
This sounds like high school kids trying to get scholarships. Some pad their resumes but in actual fact, did not do much except attend a few meetings.
I stand by my statement, I did serve on the Ka’a’awa Elementary Taskforce. I was deployed to the middle-east with all of the Hawaii Soldiers that left to serve our country, and I was medically evacuated from the middle-east because of an injury which put limitations on my mobility preventing me from doing a number of things. It is hurtful and disappointing to see my service attacked and said that it meant nothing. I do not believe that getting involved or participating in public service in any way should be called worthless, or that it means nothing towards achieving success.
I find your response almost laughable, Mr. Fale.
I went back and re-read Ian’s entry. Where in anything that Ian wrote did he attack your service or that it meant nothing? And by service, I am concluding you do mean MILITARY service.
If by chance you mean service in reference to the task force, Mr. Fale, and you only attended three meetings, then what the heck were you thinking by including it in a flyer? Did you provide the ultimate solution in one of those THREE meetings? Wow. You must be brilliant. Wait. Lets look at the minutes. Nope. Nothing. In fact, it seems you didnt say a single word.
Of course your claim would be subject to scrutiny. Everyone else did the heavy lifting on that task force — not you.
Total amateur hour, Mr. Fale.
Ian you are insulting the intelligence of your readers and playing to their predjudices and fears.
Fale claimed only that he SERVED on the board as one of several examnples of his community service. You have not disputed that. Instead you question how much of a role he played. But Fale did not assert that he personally “saved Kaaawa elementary” so there is no actual issue of fact.
Your own words prove your headine false.
You are debating a straw man of your own creation and you are probably too gutless and cowardly to allow this posting on your site.
wrong on several counts.
Not being a resident of the 47th district, I’m not privy to the Richard Fale’s mailer in question. Ian, perhaps you would be able to post a scan of the mailer so that readers of your blog can read the exact claim that Fale is making. Let the readers judge for themselves whether Fale was trying to mislead anyone.
Seems like Mister Fale overreacts. Nowhere, does Ian call his service worthless. But if Mr.Fale didn’t complete a detailed report, how can he claim credit for saving Ka’a’awa elementary school ? Sounds like the beginning of a mendacious politician.
My dictionary :
‘mendacious’ means ‘untruthful’
Very appropriate
http://www.staradvertiser.com/editorials/20101013_Dont_skip_Laie_planning_steps.html
Mark my words. If Richard Fale gets elected, Hawaii Reserves will control the Ko’olauloa coast. It’s not a good thing.
http://www.topix.com/forum/religion/T9VNQPM2NOJ3O9U45
I’m a Republican usually. But I will not vote for Richard Fale. It’s shameful the way he conducted the Neighborhood Board meetings. He cuts people off. He allows his friends to speak longer. He’s only there to vote for Hawaii Reserves, BYU and PCC.