Hawaii Kai accountant runs for City Council
Certified public accountant Natalie Iwasa has filed nomination papers to run for Honolulu City Council.
Iwasa, of Hawaii Kai, is running to fill the two remaining years for the Council District 4 seat, which encompasses East Honolulu. The seat is held by Stanley Chang, who is forgoing a re-election bid to run for Congress.
Iwasa is known by some at City Hall as "Bike Mom" because of her avid testimony in support of bike-friendly legislation. Iwasa, 51, said Thursday her main priorities are budget transparency and accountability, sound land use and infrastructure.
Ex-postal clerk indicted in gift-card theft
Another former U.S. Postal Service employee is facing charges that he stole department store gift cards from the mail while on the job.
A federal grand jury returned an indictment last week charging Vicente Martinez with two counts of mail theft.
Martinez was a postal clerk at the Volcano Post Office outside Hilo. He retired from the Postal Service in February 2013 after 18 years of service.
Martinez is accused of stealing a letter containing three Macy’s gift cards in December 2011 and stealing a letter containing a Target gift card in September 2012.
Retired letter carrier Albert Mamac Jr. pleaded guilty in October to two counts of stealing mail while on the job.
A federal judge sentenced him Tuesday to five years of probation. U.S. District Judge Derrick K. Watson also ordered Mamac, 62, to perform 400 hours of community service and pay $192 restitution.
Mamac admitted stealing a letter containing a $250 Foodland Super Market gift card in June 2010 and stealing a $100 Target gift card in October 2012. Someone using Mamac’s wife’s frequent-shopper card redeemed the Foodland gift card at a Sack ‘N Save food store, while Mamac’s daughter redeemed the Target gift card in Reno, Nev.
