KEALAKEHE, Hawaii – Round two of Mayor Billy Kenoi’s quest to bring some ethical reform to Hawaii County government kicks off at today’s Council Finance Committee.
Bill 181 would prohibit a County officer or employee who owns a business from contracting for goods and services with any County agency. It also prohibits elected officials from appearing on behalf of any private interests before any County agency.
The council has considered these reforms before. A few years ago, under a different group of district representatives, the bill was voted down after a prolonged back and forth with the County Board of Ethics.
The bill stalled in part due to the input of Randy Riley, a Department of Public Works division head who – at the time – had a controlling interest in Kamaaina Pumping, a drywell pumping company that has contracted with the county for over a decade for millions of dollars. Riley unsuccessfully ran for Hawaii County Mayor in 2008, the year Kenoi first won the seat.
Kenoi’s ethics proposal divided the council the first time around. The bill was eventually killed in 2010 by a 5-2 council vote. Of that group, only three remain on the current council.
