Hawaii Republican Party Alarmed by Blatant Nepotism at the State Capitol

News Release from www.GOPHawaii.com

The Hawaii Republican Party is calling into question Democrat Candidate for State House District 40 Chris Manabat’s qualifications to serve his community based on his dishonesty with the voters and lack of work experience.

Chris Manabat has highlighted his six years as a staffer at the State Legislature. He considers this one of his main qualifications to run for HD40. What he neglects to mention is that he served as an office manager for his mother, Rep. Rida Cabanilla.

Hawaii Republican Party Chairman David Chang said, “This is clearly nepotism, the State House frowns upon and discourages the hiring of immediate family. Mr. Manabat has misrepresented himself to the media and the voters. He as implied that he earned his position based on merit and completely glosses over the fact that he works for his mother.”

Voters should have some serious questions regarding Rep Cabanilla's hiring of her son as her office manager. It is a highly competitive position, attracting individuals with advance degrees. Mr. Manabat possesses a high school diploma. Chang states, “This whole thing reeks of favoritism, inequity and preferential treatment. It is precisely the type of behavior that gives our honest and decent public servants a bad name.”

On Manabat's campaign website he states, “I am 27 years old and have worked at our State Capitol since I was 21 years old.” and “I started at the Capitol as a volunteer and after six years worked my way up to office manager. It is this experience that has prepared me for the challenges of becoming a state elected official.” There is no mention on his site that he worked for his mother Rep. Rida Cabanilla.

“Mr. Manabat has been deliberately vague about the details of his job at the legislature and the use of different surnames for him and his mother clouds the issue,” said Chang. “Employing your family on the taxpayer's dime and using that position to bolster a political campaign is why so few people in Hawaii have confidence in their government.”

Manabat also lists property manager as a part-time job with Mira Apartments, online records show that this is also owned by his mother.

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BTW, if Manabat worked in mommy's office for 6 years, who was his boss? 

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