Off the News

‘Gaming’ the system to give voters a choice

That "strategic move" by the GOP to have locksmith David Hamman file and then withdraw candidacy for a Kauai House seat caused a buzz among politicians who accuse Republicans of "gaming the system."

Hamman never intended to run; his gambit was to create a vacancy that, under election rules, buys his party a few more days to find a real candidate.

Tricky, maybe, but rules are rules and at least the end result here will be one more contested race for voters to settle.

Remember that last-minute rush for Ann Kobayashi’s City Council seat a few years back, which ended with a lone, unopposed candidate? Compared to that filing fiasco, this one seems benign. No harm, no foul.

Shuttles a welcome service for homeless

Homeless shelters may be preferred to be out of sight, but they should not be out of range. Recognizing that, the city has announced a new shuttle service to link four shelters in Leeward Oahu to the Kapolei Transit Center.

The service will begin Aug. 9, using two donated charter buses and two 15-passenger vans at a yearly cost of $148,000, paid the city with matching federal funds.

It’s an obvious idea, and a smart one.