New UPW head is elected
in wake of Rodrigues case
Members of the United Public Workers union have elected Dayton Nakanelua state director, UPW administrator Elizabeth Ho has announced.
Nakanelua was executive assistant of Local 646 under Gary Rodrigues before the UPW leader resigned as state director in November 2002 after being convicted of 101 counts of mail fraud, money laundering and embezzlement.
The parent American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees took over the local's daily operations last December.
Nakanelua has been with the local more than 20 years and served as director of the state Department of Labor under former Gov. John Waihee.
Ho also announced on Thursday that Steven DeCosta was elected state president, and Faye Hanohano-Kaawaloa won the race for secretary-treasurer.
DeCosta is an electrician with the Department of Transportation's Airports Division on Oahu.
Hanohano-Kaawaloa is an adult correctional officer at the Kulani Correctional Facility on the Big Island.
The local represents more than 12,000 active and 2,800 retired members.
Rodrigues was sentenced in September to five years and four months in prison but remains free pending appeal.
He was found guilty of taking kickbacks from companies that did business with the union, as well as steering consulting fees to his daughter, Robin Sabatini, for work she did not perform.