Pubdate: Friday September 3, 1999
Source: Honolulu Advertiser (HI)
Contact:  P.O. Box 3110 Honolulu, Hawai'i 96802
Fax: (808)-525-8037
Author:  Hugh Clark

BIG ISLE OFFICIALS FIGHT PETITION

Hilo, Ha wai'i - Circuit Judge Riki May Amano is being asked to throw out
an impeachment petition filed against six County Council members and Mayor
Steve Yamashiro.

A group supporting the legalization of hemp and the easing of marijuana
laws submitted the petition to the court last month, saying the county
violates its charter by not carefully reviewing marijuana raids every four
years.

At a hearing scheduled for Oct. 8 at 8:30 a.m., the judge will consider
requests filed by attorneys representing the mayor and council members.

Yamashiro is represented by Robert Crudele.  Council Chairman Jimmy arakaki
is represented by Diana Van De Car.  Council members Aaron Chung and Bobbie
Jean Leithead-Todd, both Hilo attorneys, submitted their own requests for
dismissal of the petition.  Council members Dominic Yagong, Leningrad
Elarionoff and Al Smith submitted responses identical to that offered by
Leithead-Todd.

All have indicated they will seek to recover costs from the Puna-based
petitioner group.

Roger Christie, who runs a hemp products store in Pahoa, said an attorney
working with the group is considering pursuing legal options at the federal
level.

The seven office-holders believe that the petition filed August 11 is
invalid because only a handful of the signers provided mailing addresses.

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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart