by Andrew Walden
Is the entire administration of OHA complicit in the illegal candidacy of an OHA executive for Trustee?
A lawsuit (SCEC-20-0000525) filed directly with the State Supreme Court, August 24, 2020, challenges the eligibility of Keloa Lindsey to run for the Hawaii Island residential seat being vacated by his uncle, Bob Lindsey.
Plaintiffs, including Mililani Trask and several of Lindsey’s primary opponents, challenge a June 12, 2020, Office of Elections finding that Lindsey is eligible. They argue Lindsey actually lives at a home in Kailua, Oahu with his wife and children, thus is ineligible for a seat which requires Hawaii island residency.
Lindsey is Advocacy Director for OHA and, as a Lindsey, has worked out of OHA’s Oahu HQ since 2007—the year his uncle Bob Lindsey was appointed to OHA. This implies that the entire administrative staff of OHA is aware of Lindsey's true residential situation.
This is not the first time Bob Lindsey has been connected to a residency-challenged candidate. His company's employee, Senator Brickwood Galuteria, was challenged on his Kakaako residency claim during a 2014 Senate race.
Keloa Lindsey placed first in the primary election winning 38,311 votes -- 9.4% of the total cast. He is set to face off against the second place candidate anti-telescope activist Lanakila Mangauil who won 34,775 votes – 8.5% of total.
If the Supreme Court were to declare Lindsey ineligible, the third-place candidate Louis Hao would be entered in the General Election contest. Hao won 28,792 votes -- 7.1% of total.
Here are some excerpts from the lawsuit:
...(Plaintiffs) allege Lindsey actually lives in a house on Kaimake Loop, Kailua, Oahu with his wife and four children who are enrolled in school on Oahu.
…Lindsey has a full-time position with OHA as its Advocacy Director and reports for duty at the OHA main office on O'ahu. Lindsey has disclosed publicly he commenced employment with OHA in 2007 and is employed by OHA to the present.
…He is currently in a position in which he is paid a six-figure salary supporting his importance as one of its chief directors in the OHA main office….
…Lindsey changed his voter registration from O'ahu to Hawai'i island in 2019. The mail-in ballot was sent to Lindsey's mailing address, which is a Post Office Box on Hawai'i island, after he attested to a residential physical address on said island.
…Lindsey is the holder of a lease through the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands ("DHHL") in Kawaihae, Island of Hawai'i. Upon information and belief, Lindsey can present proof of the DHHL lease and of a mortgage acquired for the dwelling on the DHHL lease property ("DHHL Lease").
…Lindsey filed nomination papers by June 2nd, 2020, to run for the office of Trustee, OHA, from the island of Hawai'i. The position of Trustee pays a salary of $55,000/annually and Lindsey would not be permitted to hold an administrative position within OHA while serving on its Board of Trustees ("BOT").
…on or about June 1st and 4th, 2020 Roxie A. Tubbs challenged the nominations papers filed by Lindsey contending he was not a resident of Hawai'i island.
On or about June 12th, 2020, Scott C. Nago, Chief Elections Clerk, Office of Elections, State of Hawai'i concluded Lindsey was a resident of Hawai'i island based largely upon the confirmation by the Clerk of the County of Hawai'i that Lindsey was a registered voter….
read … COMPLAINT
Flashback—Brickwood Galuteria, on payroll of Lindsey-Chaired Pelatron Center for Economic Development—challenged on his residency in Kakaako Senate race: