Gov blasts senator for
using official’s name

Sen. Tam's proposal was not backed
by DBEDT chief Naya, Cayetano says

---

By Bruce Dunford
Associated Press

Gov. Ben Cayetano was fuming yesterday over state Sen. Rod Tam's unauthorized use of a Cabinet member's name in a news release promoting Tam's economic development proposal.

Seiji Naya, director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, was listed jointly with Tam, D-Downtown-Pauoa-Nuuanu, on a Senate letterhead news release sent out Monday describing a Tuesday news conference "to announce an overall plan to stimulate and stabilize the economy of the state of Hawaii."

Naya didn't attend the news conference at the Makai Gateway Park in Kakaako and didn't know his name was being used, department spokesman Mark Want said yesterday after Cayetano issued a statement denouncing Tam's action.

"This kind of deception is indicative of the way in which Senator Tam conducts his affairs," Cayetano said. "His five-page media release was poorly thought out, as are most of his proposals.

"Issuing it jointly under Dr. Naya's name was both irresponsible and dishonest, and Tam should apologize to Dr. Naya for placing him in this position."

Tam, chairman of the Senate Economic Development and Technology Committee, insisted that Naya was scheduled to attend the news conference, but had called Tuesday morning to say he had guests from out of town and could not attend.

"I've been talking to Dr. Seiji Naya for some time about my proposals and he was open to it," Tam said. "But I guess the governor doesn't like anyone to be open to any ideas that aren't his."

Pressed about Naya's support for his plan, Tam said: "I did talk to Dr. Seiji Naya about my economic development plan and he was not opposed to it."

As for Cayetano's reaction, Tam said: "I know the governor doesn't like me. I don't want to put Dr. Seiji Naya in an uncomfortable position."

As for the governor's call for an apology, Tam said: "There's nothing to apologize for. He always criticized the legislators. He's frustrated because he doesn't have a legacy."

Want said Naya would discuss any number of proposals with Tam in the context of Tam being chairman of the Senate committee, but would not advocate any one proposal over any other proposal.

"It was my understanding there was never any plan for a joint press conference," Want said.

At his news conference, Tam said Hawaii must emphasize its potential as an international meeting place to diversify the state economy away from its reliance on tourism.

His news release, sent under Senate letterhead, ends noting that Tam is a candidate for Honolulu City Council and as a councilman would use his economic plan "to resolve the negative financial problems of the City & County of Honolulu created by Mayor Jeremy Harris.

Tam said he doesn't think his use of the Senate letterhead to mention his council candidacy violated ethics laws "because my position as a senator doesn't end until November. It was never my intention to use this for political purposes."