Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
Yonamine State Rep. Noboru Yonamine has changed his mind about resigning from office in remorse because of a drunken-driving arrest.
retracts decision
to leave office
He says supporters persuaded
him not to quit the Legislature
after his drunken-driving arrestBy Mary Adamski
Star-BulletinYonamine (D, Pearl City), said yesterday that he was persuaded by supportive calls and messages to finish his two-year term.
"They said I have a contract with my constituents because they elected me last November. I should be bound to honor my contract, otherwise they would be disappointed," he said.
He has been in the Legislature since 1989.
"They told me I made a mistake and I have to improve myself," said the lawmaker, who also called a public meeting Feb. 15 to hear public feedback about his arrest. He told the crowd that he believes people in public office are held to a higher standard of conduct because of their position.
Yonamine said he has talked to his personal physician at Straub Clinic & Hospital about enrolling in professional counseling.
He said he will be represented by an attorney at his March 6 hearing in Leeward District Court on the drunken driving charge. "Whatever (the judge) decides, I will take it ... I would not argue with it."
Yonamine announced on the day after his arrest that he intended to resign at the end of the legislative session because he had let his family and supporters down.
He was stopped Feb. 8 by an officer who reported that he saw Yonamine's car weaving across lane boundaries on westbound H-1 Freeway. His blood alcohol reading was 0.134, above the legal driving limit of 0.08.
Ron Sakata, director of the administrative driver's license revocation office, said Yonamine's license will be revoked for three months beginning March 11.
Legislature Directory
Legislature Bills & Hawaii Revised Statutes
