Dear Attorney General Louie:          October 22, 2014

It has come to my attention through various veterans, including the victim, that Maui County Council Member Elle Cochran has fired one of her Council Staff members, Chelton Miyazono, for participating in his mandatory National Guard training.  At the least, this appears to be a violation of the Uniformed Services Employment and Re-employment Right Act (USERRA).

Mr. Miyazono asserts that he was fired after he informed her that he had to attend military service and the Council Member then questioned whether his loyalty was sufficient to her for her to keep him on. She later fired him, I am told, without cause.

If these serious allegations are true, it is disconcerting,to say the least, that any elected official would put her own political ambitions before the mandated requirements our state, our country, and that of an active duty National Guardsman.

Thank God we have law in this country to correct such travesties.

The Judge Adjutant General's Corps is looking into this matter and it is my hope that as our Attorney General, you too will also initiate an investigation.

Please be advised that I am also copying the Governor and our own Adjutant General Major General Darryl Wong. In anticipation that they too will want to see this egregious matter corrected.

Sincerely,

Bob McDermott

State House of Representatives

CC:

Maj.Gen. Darryl Wong

Governor Neil Abercrombie

Maui News: Cochran denies former staffer’s dismissal claim