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Bieber: Castillo’s absence ‘unacceptable’
By Michael Levine - The Garden Island
LIHU‘E — County Attorney Al Castillo’s ears were surely ringing Thursday.
With Castillo’s seat at the Board of Ethics filled by newest deputy Mauna Kea Trask, who joined the county attorney’s staff last month after serving as a deputy prosecuting attorney, board member Rolf Bieber said he found Castillo’s absence “odd.”
Trask said Castillo was with Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and Gov. Linda Lingle negotiating the UPW and HGEA contracts, and Castillo confirmed Tuesday that he was working on collective bargaining, saying he could not be in two places at once and adding that he plans to have deputies cover board and commission meetings whenever his presence is not required.
The controversial opinion regarding Section 20.02(d) was authored by Trask, who said he had just received the assignment 24 hours earlier, had not received the executive session minutes or any e-mail correspondence with the board from Castillo, and had done the best he could in the time he was allowed.
“Mr. Castillo owes this board more than that,” Bieber said, at one point turning to Trask and saying, “I don’t know you, sir.”
“To not show up, and not provide any clue ... I find it unacceptable.”
In a written statement provided to The Garden Island following the meeting, Bieber wrote, “It is becoming increasingly clear and indefensible that County Attorney Castillo is not performing as he has advertised to the board since March 2009.
“I am disappointed but not surprised he sent his deputy into today’s board meeting with a substandard product delivered post haste. 20.02(d) is as plain and unambiguous a law one can understand. Yet Castillo’s unfortunate and mysterious absence today indicates seriously diminished credibility.
“I would hope the board now considers a neutral party to provide ‘findings of fact and conclusions of law’ to get to the bottom of this.”
In an interview outside of the Mo‘ikeha Building Tuesday, Castillo explained his interpretation of the law.
“20.02 standing alone is crystal clear, but considering the code, the framers of the code and the desire to allow for public participation, it’s not black and white,” he said. “For now, that’s my position.”
With Castillo’s seat at the Board of Ethics filled by newest deputy Mauna Kea Trask, who joined the county attorney’s staff last month after serving as a deputy prosecuting attorney, board member Rolf Bieber said he found Castillo’s absence “odd.”
Trask said Castillo was with Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. and Gov. Linda Lingle negotiating the UPW and HGEA contracts, and Castillo confirmed Tuesday that he was working on collective bargaining, saying he could not be in two places at once and adding that he plans to have deputies cover board and commission meetings whenever his presence is not required.
The controversial opinion regarding Section 20.02(d) was authored by Trask, who said he had just received the assignment 24 hours earlier, had not received the executive session minutes or any e-mail correspondence with the board from Castillo, and had done the best he could in the time he was allowed.
“Mr. Castillo owes this board more than that,” Bieber said, at one point turning to Trask and saying, “I don’t know you, sir.”
“To not show up, and not provide any clue ... I find it unacceptable.”
In a written statement provided to The Garden Island following the meeting, Bieber wrote, “It is becoming increasingly clear and indefensible that County Attorney Castillo is not performing as he has advertised to the board since March 2009.
“I am disappointed but not surprised he sent his deputy into today’s board meeting with a substandard product delivered post haste. 20.02(d) is as plain and unambiguous a law one can understand. Yet Castillo’s unfortunate and mysterious absence today indicates seriously diminished credibility.
“I would hope the board now considers a neutral party to provide ‘findings of fact and conclusions of law’ to get to the bottom of this.”
In an interview outside of the Mo‘ikeha Building Tuesday, Castillo explained his interpretation of the law.
“20.02 standing alone is crystal clear, but considering the code, the framers of the code and the desire to allow for public participation, it’s not black and white,” he said. “For now, that’s my position.”
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| Disclosures aired in public |
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of kauaiworld.com.
misty1 wrote on Jul 16, 2009 10:32 PM:
" "hulali"....that was very well put.If Mr. Bieber was the County Attorney i would think HE could be in 2 places at once. And why make a comment to Mr. Trask "I don't know you." So in other words, if you are going to hold a position of any sort..you better know your people. Mr. Bieber...I don' know you...so if you think of running for Council or something else, you better get out there and make yourself known. "
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hulali wrote on Jul 15, 2009 11:40 AM:
Mr. Castillo is doing a great job and is BY FAR the most competent attorney we have ever had in that office. And as for Mr. Beiber's comment about "not knowing" Mr. Trask, that has nothing to do with anything. Mr. Trask is completely qualified to handle the Ethics Board meeting and has been doing a great job in the County attorney's office as well.
For Mr. Beiber to make such a negative public statement against these men makes me think he is either viscous and mean by nature or is motivated to remove them from office and replaced with someone more sympathic to his political position.
I am sick to death over this kind of politcal whining! "