UH regent’s company
can bid for contractUH coach's son apologizes for racial slur
By Susan Kreifels
Star-BulletinA University of Hawaii attorney has determined that a bid for a UH contract from a company owned by a UH regent is not a conflict of interest as long as the regent doesn't take part in decisions on the contract.
But the university has advertised the bid again because one firm said it didn't know about the contract, said Joanne Clark, director of university relations.
Recently appointed regent Sharon Weiner, president and chief executive officer of Stryker Weiner Associates Inc., disclosed the potential conflict in a letter to university officials in July.
UH general counsel Walter Kirimitsu said this week that he saw no conflict as long as Weiner didn't participate in any decision-making on the bid. Kirimitsu added that he didn't consider the situation or his decision unusual.
Weiner is out of town. Neal Yokota, executive vice president of Stryker Weiner Associates, a public relations firm, said yesterday that the company placed another bid on the contract, which will help train individuals in the UH administration on how to respond to media interviews.
The bid closes Friday and UH officials hope to award the contract by early October, Clark said.
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