O‘ahu County Committee of the DPH Votes Unanimously to Accept Fukumoto Request for Membership

News Release from Democratic Party of Hawaii

HONOLULU – June 19th, 2017

On Saturday June 17th, members of the O‘ahu County Committee (OCC) of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i (DPH) voted unanimously to accept the application of Representative Beth Fukumoto to become a member of the DPH.

The vote comes as the final step in a process required by party bylaws for elected officials switching parties and after several meetings with Rep. Fukumoto, including one-on-one discussions with elected members of the party as well as State Chair Tim Vandeveer, the OCC Executive Committee, and DPH caucus members (ie Golojuch).

Dr. Rich Halverson, Chair of the O‘ahu County Committee stated “though talk of Rep. Fukumoto’s request to become a Democrat has been ongoing for months, we received her formal application less than one month ago. We were pleased to meet with Rep. Fukumoto and take this vote in a way that we felt was timely and inclusive for everyone involved.”

Of the vote, DPH State Party Chair Tim Vandeveer said “we have maintained from the beginning that we would ensure Rep. Fukumoto a fair process and that should things align and unfold accordingly, we in Democratic leadership would welcome her in. I applaud the O‘ahu County Committee for their work.”

“I firmly believed that our Party should hold Rep. Fukumoto to no stricter an ideological standard than anyone else with a ‘D’ behind their name that currently sits in the big square building” explained Vandeveer. “While I agree with the notion that we should seek to elect better Democrats and not just more Democrats, I also understand that we are a ‘big tent’ party that is welcoming of many different ideas and viewpoints. This is the balance that confronts us.”

Of the process, Rep. Fukumoto said “(Saturday)'s vote was the result of weeks of meetings and conversations with Democratic Party members about our mutual goals, passions, and how we can work together to make a better life for the people of Hawai‘i. I got involved in politics with the goal of making Hawai‘i more affordable for local families, and I'm looking forward to doing that work with the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i.”

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Decisive Endorsement? Gay Thief Approves Fukumoto for Democratic Party membership

SA June 17, 2017: …On Thursday, Fukumoto spent more than an hour answering questions from members of the party’s (ruling) LGBT caucus. She reiterated that she (knows she needs to say she) supports gay marriage, despite her 2013 vote, which she apologized for, according to a recording of the meeting. She also clarified that she did not support gay “conversion therapy,” which she called (knows she must now say is) unscientific and psychologically damaging, and said she supported issues important to the transgender community (and is saddened every time she uses a restroom and finds no tranny there).

(Hawaii Democratic Party overlord and) LGBT caucus chairman (convicted thief) Michael (‘Bitchbear’) Golojuch said that the caucus was not taking a position on whether Fukumoto should be accepted into the party but suggested that many of his concerns about Fukumoto’s views were appeased….

Party members will discuss Fukumoto’s fitness to join the Democrats during a 10 a.m. meeting at the headquarters of the Hawaii Government Employees Association (of course) before 16 members of the Oahu county executive committee take a vote….

read … Gay Approved 

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Rep Marilyn Lee to Appeal Against Admission of Fukumoto?

CB: …Former state Rep. Marilyn Lee said she will work to gather the necessary signatures to challenge Fukumoto’s application. Lee lost her redistricted Mililani seat to Fukumoto in 2012 and also lost rematches in 2014 and 2016.

Lee said she was disappointed but not surprised by the decision from the Oahu Central Committee, saying that Fukumoto had hired a public-relations firm to help her campaign.

“I am not convinced she is supportive of the Democratic Party and its platform,” she said. “Her voting record on several issues near and dear to the progressive majority is abysmal. She now proclaims to be pro choice and pro marriage equality. What a dramatic reinvention of herself.”

Lee noted that Fukumoto is the second Republican to bolt the GOP in the last few years.

“They may blame that on the Republican Party, but in essence it is their lack of effective leadership in the Republican caucus,” she said. “It is very sad for Hawaii to have such a lopsided Legislature, and even though there are factions, it is still a one-party state. Someone has to get up and lead. It is bad for all of us.” ….

Bart Dame, a former chairman of the rules committee for the State Central Committee, said Lee would need to gather signatures from 10 members of the committee by June 28….

UPDATE: “Marilyn Lee changed her mind, citing the complexity of the appeals process and the unlikelihood that the appeal would be successful”

read … Appeal  

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Chairman Ostrov’s Statement on Representative Beth Fukumoto’s move to the Democratic Party

News Release from Hawaii Republican Party

We, at the Hawaii Republican Party, would like to express our sincere disappointment over Representative Beth Fukumoto’s decision to switch parties.  Most of us have known Beth for many years, as a colleague and friend, at the Capitol and on the campaign trail.  Her decision to seek membership in the Democratic Party has been a tremendous let-down for so many of her supporters and particularly her constituents, who last November went to polls to elect a Republican, not a Democrat.

We recognize that it is not easy to be a Republican in the state of Hawaii.  It is not easy to stand alone in support of ideals that buck the political elite, where you find yourself outnumbered ten-to-one.  It is not easy to stand firmly on principles and values, and debate the issues openly and honestly.  It is not easy to stand in defiance of an entrenched political machine that has dominated our state’s politics for three generations and has given so much power to just a few insiders.

However, it is easy to discard your principles and values and side with the majority.  It is easy to abandon the tough discussions and debate and join a sycophant chorus, hoping for a quick reward or kickback.  It is easy to advocate for your caucus, rather than your constituents.

It is truly disappointing that Beth chose to leave the Hawaii Republican Party just as we enter a new phase, under new leadership, with a new vision and mission to expand our base and implement a diversified strategic platform.  Beth is a capable legislator and could have played a pivotal role in re-energizing our party.  The biggest disappointment, however, is that she made this decision for political expediency and personal gain, rather than for reasons more understandable and rooted in honesty and integrity.

Moving forward, it will be the goal of our party to recruit compelling candidates of solid character and motivations–not fair weather politicians–with the strength to debate the difficult  issues we face in our communities, the courage to boldly face our opposition and the resolve to stay the course until we’ve achieved our foremost goal of improving the lives of the people of Hawaii.

Mahalo,

Chairman Ostrov