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Yonamine rethinks It was billed as a penitential public meeting but it played more like a testimonial dinner for state Rep. Noboru Yonamine.
quitting after
public support
'It takes a big man and strong
man to get up in public and
admit his mistake. ...
Nobu is a noble man'By Mary Adamski
Star-BulletinThe Pearl City legislator called the meeting last night for a constituents' discussion of his Feb. 7 drunken-driving arrest, and his announcement that he would resign because of it.
He heard praise for his support of area schools and projects, some concern that he take care of his health and pleas urging him to stay in the office he has held since 1989.
"It takes a big man and a strong man to get up in public and admit his mistake," said Al DeMello, a friend from the Lions Club. "None of us can say we never erred or had mental lapses. Nobu is a noble man."
"The issue at hand is not to be taken lightly," said the Rev. Richard Matsushita, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church. He described Yonamine's background as a social worker and former director of the Susannah Wesley Foundation and Atherton YMCA, and suggested that Yonamine "witness in a positive way to others" about drunken driving.
That was as close to a scolding as Yonamine got from the crowd of 30 people. He told them "I had to be scolded for three straight days by my wife Elsie, but she stood by me." Of the many calls his arrest generated, two were negative, he said. One was from a woman whose child was killed by a drunken driver, who urged him to resign.
The legislator said he will announce this weekend whether he will proceed with his plan to quit after the current session or stay to fill out the two-year term to which he was elected in November.
"I don't believe I have a drinking problem, but it is important for me to understand why I did (drink) that night," Yonamine told the group. He said he would seek counseling, "a third party assessment" of the incident.
After other speakers suggested that he become an advocate against drinking and driving, he said "I would not hesitate to lend my name to that kind of theme or drive." But he said he wouldn't commit to "spearhead a drunk-driving campaign."
He said he believes people in public office should be "held to a higher standard. There have been lawmakers who have done illegal or unethical things that cast a doubt on our ability to serve openly, fairly, justly."
Boniface Leong told the legislator, "I think you should run for office again and let the voters speak. The Highlands Intermediate School band teacher read a letter from the school principal, Jane Himeda, who said she was shocked to hear of his arrest but urged him not to resign. "If it had been a felony offense, I would agree."
One speaker pointed out that "a guy named Bill" had declined to resign despite "conduct many people considered to be despicable." He said Yonamine should not resign.
"We disagree on a lot of things, but he always listened," Grace Fujimoto said after the meeting.
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