Fox officially resigns at Capitol
Republicans hold a low-key luncheon to bid him farewell
GALEN FOX walked out of his state Capitol office for the last time as a representative yesterday to await sentencing in January for a federal misdemeanor charge of abusive sexual conduct.
After a decade representing the Waikiki district, Fox officially resigned yesterday after it was learned that he had been convicted of molesting a sleeping 27-year-old female passenger on an overnight flight to Los Angeles last year.
Fox held a news conference last month to say he had been convicted in federal court in Los Angeles in October. His news conference came as KITV-TV was readying a report on the conviction.
Democrats criticized the former GOP House leader last month for not immediately announcing his arrest and conviction.
Fox would not comment yesterday, but fellow House Republicans held a closed-door farewell luncheon for him in the House GOP caucus room.
"It was low key and no one mentioned the circumstances," one GOP aide said.
Gov. Linda Lingle has 60 days to appoint a successor to fill out the remaining 11 months of Fox's term, but Lingle has said she wanted to take action before the 2006 Legislature opens in January.
Four Republicans from the district have applied for the post, according to Sam Aiona, GOP state chairman.
The four are Les Among, a Waikiki Neighborhood Board member; Bob Finley, a retired National Guard member and the Waikiki Neighborhood Board chairman; Ann Stevens, an aide to GOP Sen. Gordon Trimble; and Kristi Sue Ako, a former Trimble aide now working for Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona.
Finley said he and the other applicants met with Fox earlier this week.
"He did the right thing by stepping down, but it was a total shame to lose a politician with his skill," Finley said.
Aiona said he expects more Waikiki Republicans to send their applications by the Monday deadline.
Fox's departure leaves both a vacancy and controversy within the 10-member GOP caucus.
"It is hard for me as a woman to deal with what has happened. Sexual harassment is an issue and a top issue for me, but with Galen it is almost unbelievable for those of us who have known him," said Rep. Kymberly Pine, who worked as an aide for Fox and other GOP House members before her election to the Legislature.
Pine said the Legislature has not dealt honestly with the issue of crimes against women, noting that Rep. Dwight Takamine, Democratic chairman of the House Finance Committee, did not resign or be sanctioned after pleading guilty to reduced charges of harassment.
In 1997, Takamine had a harassment conviction erased after he completed six months of probation after he pushed his wife against a kitchen cabinet and bruised her elbow during an argument.
After reviewing evidence and consulting with his wife, the prosecutor reduced the charge from spousal abuse to the petty misdemeanor harassment charge.
Takamine took responsibility for his actions and pleaded guilty.
But Pine said Takamine's continued position of power shows the Legislature has not changed.
"As a woman, I see no changes. His constituents continue to elect him, and the Democrats continue to appoint him as chair. At least Galen resigned. It is embarrassing what he is going through. ... He was loved by his district, and he probably would have been re-elected but he resigned," she said.
"He recognizes that this is something that is serious," Pine said.
Takamine was not available for comment, but Nanci Kreidman, executive director of the Domestic Violence Clearinghouse, said Takamine had accepted responsibility.
"When he was charged and convicted of domestic violence, I thought Rep. Takamine demonstrated great accountability and took responsibility for it, apologized for it and acknowledged having done it.
"I think Galen Fox was shamed into it, and I think they acted completely differently. Resigning isn't the only desired action. You have Galen denying it to the end and Dwight accepting responsibility. Dwight's credibility was earned," Kreidman said.
Last month, Fox said that he had only touched the female passenger on her arm, while the victim testified in court that she awoke to find Fox's hand inside her jeans rubbing her crotch.
Fox said he was not guilty, despite the judge's verdict. He is scheduled to be sentenced next month in Los Angeles.
Prosecutors had said they expect Fox to be ordered to get counseling and serve a term of probation. He faces a maximum of six months in prison and five years of supervised release.
REPLACING FOX
Four Republicans have applied to replace Galen Fox to represent the Waikiki House district:
Les Among: Waikiki Neighborhood Board member
Bob Finley: Waikiki Neighborhood Board chairman and retired National Guard member
Ann Stevens: Aide to GOP Sen. Gordon Trimble
Kristi Sue Ako: Former Trimble aide, now working for Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona
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