i L i n d . n e t

Now that more candidates are filing their nomination papers to run in this year’s elections, I wondered when candidate’s personal financial disclosure are due. These are the disclosures of their personal interests that can sometimes reveal financial and business ties that could influence their future votes.

I was surprised to find that disclosure don’t have to be made until a few weeks before the September 20 primary election. The due date is set by Section 84-17 HRS, part of the state’s ethics law.

“…candidates for state elective offices or the constitutional convention shall file the required statements no later than twenty days prior to the date of the primary election for state offices or the election of delegates to the constitutional convention.”

Candidates file somewhat less detailed reports with less complete disclosure than those filed by the winners when they take office, but the reports can still be useful. They are useful tidbits to file away as they sometimes can provide otherwise unavailable about candidates who lose but later resurface in other contexts.

Speaking of candidates, I Am thinking of running against Mazie Hirono for the 2nd Congressional District seat.

Let me clarify. I’m not running, but someone who signed their name “I Am” (as in “I think, therefore…”) with an address in Pahoa on the Big Island did pick up papers on February 14 in preparation for a run. Oh–I Am is a Republican.

Zogby International has reported the results of a poll of Americans’ views of journalism and what people want in their news. Interesting stuff.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Robert Jamieson Jr. takes a look at “what our kids don’t know.”

Those who relish a challenge have only another day to apply for the job of heading up the state’s Historic Preservation Division at the Dept. of Land and Natural Resources. Here’s the DLNR ad with detals.

And both the State Ethics Commission and Campaign Spending Commission are looking for new members. Application deadline for both is March 14.

And it’s time for another bunch of our morning dogs of Kaaawa, part of the pack that greets us every morning on our walk to the beach and back at dawn. This is Ms. Inu, who apparently will chase this ball forever. At least we’ve never seen her stop.