Instead of using the words "strident" and "old" to characterize Fasi's debate style, I would mention dynamic and confident.
Frank Fasi has throughout his political career displayed vision and courage against great odds. His TV debate appearance was stellar, showing us why Fasi is a great leader. Theodore Roosevelt described a great leader as one who is a dreamer, not afraid to fight for his dreams and who, even if he fails, does so while "daring greatly."
Mayor Harris has often referred to the public as "customers," who deserve good service. That is the language of a technocrat, passionless and analytical. Frank Fasi sees us as all part of a family. His is more the language of a dreamer and visionary. This keeps him forever young.
Bob W. St. Sure
Pearl City
During the same period I have received information from all other officials representing my district on a regular basis, including Mayor Jeremy Harris, Councilman Jon Yoshimura and state Rep. Suzanne Chun Oakland, and see them or their staff regularly at neighborhood board meetings.
If Holt is too busy to care about us, why is he running for re-election? His performance in the Legislature indicates he has another constituency, the auto insurance industry, that needs him in power.
Paul Lerman
The money was used to educate the community about the importance of the Cat Protection Law, which was enacted by the Council and which became effective Sept. 1, 1995. The law has saved the lives of hundreds of cats.
Ervin also states that "$3,840 (was spent) to mail out 12,000 letters encouraging opposition to the audit." I do not know where he obtained his information, but the number of letters mailed out and the related cost were far less. The letters also did not encourage opposition to the audit - they requested recipients to convey their experiences with the Society to their Council members.
The society's position that the audit was unnecessary was predicated on the fact that the resolution was introduced due to unsubstantiated public allegations. The Council agreed that the allegations were of no merit and amended the resolution by removing all references to public allegations.
Although the reason for introducing the resolution was not valid, the Council still passed the resolution. We will fully cooperate to see that the audit of the society is completed.
Felix Young
Director of Finance/Administration
Hawaiian Humane Society
These four women and four men performed their duty with honesty, sensitivity and intelligence. They did not base their decision solely on the fact that Michelle Gretzinger did not come forward until several months after the alleged rapes occurred.
After the verdict was rendered, attorneys for both Lamb and Gretzinger met with jurors to discuss their decision. Some explained that they would liked to have believed her, knowing that it is difficult for women to bring rape charges. But they simply could not because she had been so inconsistent and the sequence of events as relayed by her did not make sense.
In the end, the jury unanimously found, after a single vote, that not only had Gretzinger failed to prove her claim, but that she had actually lied.
Most women do not bring false rape charges. This case was an anomaly. That is why there was so much hard evidence to refute Gretzinger's claims.
Women should not be discouraged from bringing real rape charges, even if several months have passed since the incident. Your word, if consistent and forthright, should be good enough.
Although it may be difficult, you must trust that a jury of your peers will serve the truth, as it did in this case.
John T. Komeiji
Patsy H. Kirio
Attorneys for Ramdas Lamb