Clerk fires back over voting gaffes

She says the chief election officer did not allow her to respond to a critical report before it went public

By Gregg K. Kakesako

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Aug 18, 2012

~~<p>Hawaii County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi said she was unaware that the state chief election officer was investigating her performance and "strongly disagrees" with his findings of failed leadership and poor planning in the primary election.</p>
<p>Kawauchi has drawn a firestorm of criticism about her handling of the Aug. 11 primary in Hawaii County, where failure to open a number of precincts on time prompted Gov. Neil Abercrombie to issue an emergency proclamation extending voting by 90 minutes.</p>
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Hawaii County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi said she was unaware that the state chief election officer was investigating her performance and "strongly disagrees" with his findings of failed leadership and poor planning in the primary election.

Kawauchi has drawn a firestorm of criticism about her handling of the Aug. 11 primary in Hawaii County, where failure to open a number of precincts on time prompted Gov. Neil Abercrombie to issue an emergency proclamation extending voting by 90 minutes. Login for more...