Commissioners with the city’s liquor control agency must do a better job of scrutinizing and vetting candidates in this latest attempt to fill the agency’s administrator position, said Honolulu city Councilman Ron Menor.
The Honolulu Liquor Commission deadline for applications was Friday for the appointed, non-civil service post, which oversees about 50 employees and answers to the agency’s commissioners.
"Given the important responsibilities of the liquor control administrator, it’s important a person serving in that position maintain the highest ethical and professional standards," said Menor, chairman of the Council committee that approves appointments to the commission.
Menor said the commissioners failed to properly vet the last administrator, Greg Nishioka, who left in August after pleading guilty to 47 ethical violations related to his private law firm.
"With respect to the last hire, it didn’t appear that the commission did the kind of thorough vetting that they should have done," Menor said. "The commission failed to discover the fact that the previous administrator had problems with the Office of Disciplinary Council that oversees attorneys in Hawaii."
Michael Yamaguchi, commission chairman, declined to comment.
"From my perspective, I think the commission needs to do a better job of vetting the applicants," Menor said.
The commission has been trying to restore its image following troubles over the past decade. Before Nishioka, Administrator Dewey Kim was placed on administrative leave for a secret investigation until he quit six months later. In 2005, Wally Weatherwax resigned as administrator after the commission voted to strip him of his duties. During Weatherwax’s time at the helm, eight former investigators received prison time for taking bribes.
Menor said that in discussions he’s had with commissioners, they’ve indicated their seriousness in selecting an administrator who can do an effective job and maintain professional standards, adding "they plan to do a much more thorough and careful job."
