Community groups, individuals come together to oppose Abercrombie nominee to water commission

Their full statement is reprinted below:

JOINT STATEMENT IN OPPOSITION TO THE CONFIRMATION OF TED YAMAMURA

We, the undersigned, urge all Senators to REJECT the Governor’s selection of land appraiser Ted Yamamura as the member of the Commission on Water
Resources Management because:

• He does NOT meet the mandatory statutory criterion that CWRM members each have “substantial experience in ... water resources management” and admits he would be learning his duties and responsibilities on the job;
• The Nominating Committee established by statute to recommend candidates to the Governor conducted no interviews and met for only once for 45 minutes in performing its duties;
• His appointment would create a geographic imbalance on the CWRM,with 4 members being from Maui; and
• His appointment bypasses several other CLEARLY qualified applicants who could serve with distinction on the CWRM.

As citizens, we urge the State Senate to prudently exercise its constitutional advice and consent role by demanding stricter compliance with the clear statutory qualification required for the CWRM members.

Supporters* of Joint Statement of Opposition to Confirmation of Ted Yamamura
(April 16, 2012)

Organizations

Non-Partisan Hawai`i `Ohana (NPHO) – Honolulu
Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii - Honolulu
League of Women Voters (LWVHI) - Honolulu
Progressive Democrats of Hawaii (PDH) – Honolulu
Citizen Voice – Honolulu
Americans for Democratic Action/Hawaii (ADA/H)- Honolulu
Nā Moku Aupuni O Ko`olau Hui – Wailuanui, Maui
Hui o Nā Wai `Ehā – Wailuku, Maui
Honopou Road Association (HRA) – Honopou, Maui
Kipahulu ‘Ohana Association – Kipahulu, Maui
Hakipu`u `Ohana – Hakipu`u, O`ahu
Ka Lei Maile Alii Hawaiian Civic Club – Honolulu
Hawai`i’s Thousand Friends (HTF) – Kailua, O`ahu,
Maui Tomorrow (MT) - Wailuku, Maui,
Hui Ho’opakele `Aina (HHA) - Ho`olehua, Moloka`i
SustʻAINAble MolokaʻI – Kaunakakai, Moloka`i
Friends of Lana`i – Lana`i City, Lana`i
Conservation Council for Hawai`i (CCH) – Honolulu
Earthjustice (EJ) – Honolulu
Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation (NHLC) - Honolulu
Sierra Club (SC) – Honolulu
Individuals
Beppie Shapiro, President of the LWVHI
Charlene Hoe – Delegate,1978 Constitutional Convention, Hakipu`u, Oahu
Charlie Reppun - Kalo Farmer and Governor Ariyoshi’s appointee to Governor’s Advisory Study Commission on Water Resources, Waiāhole Valley, O`ahu
Gail Breakey – PDH, Honolulu
Donna Wong – Executive Director, HTF
Michelle Matson – NPHO, Honolulu
Barbara Polk - Legislative Chair for ADA/H, Honolulu
John V. Duey, President of Hui o Nā Wai `Ehā
Ed Wendt - Kalo Farmer, Water Liaison for Na Moku Aupuni O Ko`olau Hui,  Wailuanui Valley, Maui
Mahealani Wendt - Wailuanui Valley, Maui
Lurlyn Scott - secretary, Honopou Road Association, Peahi, Maui
Steven Hookano - Kalo Farmer, Wailuanui, Maui
L. Pauahi Hookano - Wailuanui Valley, Maui
Lynette Cruz - President, Ka Lei Maile Alii Hawaiian Civic Club, Honolulu
Marjorie Ziegler – Executive Director, CCH
Whispering Winds Bamboo Inc. – Hana, Maui
Alethea Rebman - President, Citizen Voice
Moses Hai’a – Executive Director, NHLC
Robert Harris - Sierra Club
Lucienne DeNaie, SC Maui
Malia Akutagawa - SustʻAINAble Molokaʻi
Walter Ritte – HHA, Ho`olehua, Moloka`i
Rich VonWellsheim - President, Whispering Winds Bamboo Inc., Hana, Maui
Seth Raabe - Whispering Winds Bamboo Inc., Hana Maui
Isaac Moriwake - EJ attorney, Honolulu
Camille Kalama - NHLC attorney, Waipahu, O`ahu
Sean Lester - Keanae, Maui
Darryl and Solette Perry -
Foster Ampong - Wailuku, Maui
Duane Erway – Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i Island
Marjorie Erway – Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i Island
Penny Levin – Wailuku, Maui
Kapua Sproat – EJ attorney, O`ahu
Glenn Teves - Hawaiian Homestead farmer, Ho`olehua, Moloka`I
Nancy A. Jones - Upset Taxpayer, Aiea, O`ahu
Arnie Saiki - ‘Imi Pono Projects*, Los Angeles, CA
Mary Baker, UH PhD candidate in Indigenous Politics, Honolulu
Trevor Atkins, Kumu, Halau Ku Mana Charter School*
Choon James - Country Talk Story, Kahuku, O`ahu
Steve Holmes - Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i Island
Cory Harden - Mt. View, Hawai’i Island
Jeanine Johnson - Niu, O`ahu
Charlene Kana – Waihee, Maui
Suzette A. Cossey - Hana, Maui
Thomas E. Cossey, Jr. - Hana, Maui
Leimomi Khan – Honolulu
Dr. Nancy Hedlund – Honolulu
Alan Murakami - NHLC attorney, Honolulu
Denise Snyder - Honolulu
Robyn Kaye – Lana`i City, Lana`i
John A’ana – Westside of Kaua`i
Jim A’ana – Westside of Kaua`i
Kalani Kapuniai – Westside of Kaua`i
Clifford Apo – Westside of Kaua`i
Phoebe Eng – Westside of Kaua`i
Kawai Warren – Westside of Kaua`i
Lorna Po’e – Westside of Kaua`i
Kekoa A’ana – Westside of Kaua`i
Kevin Chang – Kahalu`u, O`ahu
Rodger and Elizabeth Reilly - Hawaii Kai, O’ahu
Mike deYcaza - Waikiki, O`ahu
Nancy Aleck – Executive Director, People’s Fund*, Honolulu, HI
Dr. Noel Kent – Professor, University of Hawai’i Manoa,* Honolulu
Bob Crone – Kailua, O`ahu
Laurel Douglass - Keokea Mau’i
Richard Duggan - Kaneohe, O`ahu
Ann Sack Shaver – Wai`anae, O`ahu
Charles Lehuakona Isaacs Jr. - Kailua, Oahu
Leslie Ragan - Concerned Citizen, Kailua, Oahu
Malama Minn – Honolulu
Andrea Jepson – Kailua, O`ahu
Robin Kaye – Lana`i City, Lana`i
Kala Hoe – Hakipu`u, O`ahu
Dr. Anthony Castanha - University of Hawai’i at Manoa,* Honolulu
Naomi Sodetani – Kailua, O`ahu
Lehua Kauhane – Honolulu
Dave Perez - Kapolei, O`ahu
Tina Varble - Kapolei, O`ahu
David Makana Martin – Moloa`a, Kaua`i
Judith Flanders
Kaohuokaala Seto
Kerry Long 
Sara Long

 * Organizations are separately listed where each has officially supported the Joint Statement in Opposition to the Confirmation of Ted Yamamura.  Where organizational affiliations are listed ONLY after a name, it is intended only as a means of professionally identifying the person listed.  Those organizations (not separately listed) have not adopted a formal position on the Joint Statement.