LIHUE >> Gary Baldwin, the architect of Kauai's effort to attract high tech businesses and the defendant in a 1984 theft case in Arizona, announced his retirement this week as president of the Kauai Economic Development Board. Baldwin retires
from Kauai boardHe says the decision isn’t linked to a
pending Arizona trial on theft chargesBy Anthony Sommer
tsommer@starbulletin.comBaldwin, 56, said the decision is not related to the pending criminal case in Phoenix. He said he made the decision in early November to "take time off to get healthy."
Baldwin was hospitalized last winter with a heart condition aggravated by his busy schedule as a Hawaii Tourism Authority board member in the weeks after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. After his release from the hospital, he didn't work for more than a month and declined a second term with the HTA.
Baldwin said he is going to work for the Economic Development Alliance of Hawaii, an association of the economic development boards from Hawaii's four counties.
For much of the 1990s, Baldwin headed an effort using the Navy's Pacific Missile Range as a magnet to convince defense-related companies to open offices and facilities on Kauai. The KEBD has built one office building for high tech companies, has begun work on a second, has leased one facility as a manufacturing plant, and is purchasing a second manufacturing plant.
Baldwin's efforts have been enhanced by his close relationship with U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who has helped keep the Pacific Missile Range alive by securing federal funds to update its equipment.
Baldwin was arrested at his home on July 27 by FBI agents on a federal charge of flight to avoid prosecution. However, the charge was dropped.
He appeared in court in Phoenix and pleaded not guilty to felony and theft charges for allegedly pocketing $330,000 to which he was not entitled in his 1984 sale of a Gates Lear Jet to Arizona eye doctor Dr. David Dulaney. Baldwin was indicted in 1986 by a grand jury in Phoenix but the indictment was not made public until after his arrest.
Baldwin is scheduled to stand trial in Phoenix on Jan. 27. A motion by his attorney to dismiss the case will be argued on Jan. 17. Attorneys for the victim have filed a motion with the court supporting the motion to dismiss and Baldwin's lawyer has said all financial questions have been resolved.
The Maricopa County Attorney's Office, however, insists that a crime did occur and wants Baldwin to stand trial.
Meanwhile, the board of directors of the KEDB were not informed until yesterday that Baldwin had sent the nonprofit organization's executive committee a letter in early November announcing his decision to retire after 12 years.
The three-member executive committee picked Mattie Yoshioka to replace Baldwin. She previously headed the Kauai County Office of Community Assistance under former Mayor Maryanne Kusaka.
Kauai Economic Development Board
County of Kauai
