Governor unseen as storm advanced

The storm has not quite passed our state as I write this, but I would like to take this opportunity to commend the media and county mayors for a job well done. I felt well prepared and comfortable with the up-to-date information given.

This storm affected our whole state, but I have one question. Where was our governor during this critical time?

Kenneth Ikenaga
Pearl City

Candidates should win by a majority

Our governor and other elected officials deserve the opportunity to earn a majority vote, not just a plurality as we may see next month.

With a majority, leaders will be in a stronger position to make changes.I urge the new governor to work with the Legislature to establish runoff elections between the top two candidates when they do not get a clear majority.

The words of the late Shiro Riklon, chief electoral officer of the Marshall Islands, still ring in my mind from a discussion years ago about the cost of computerizing the electoral roll:"Democracy costs money, just tell me what you need."

Here in Hawaii, too, the benefits of a mandate for the winner outweigh the costs of a runoff election, especially one by postal ballot.

Dan Smith
Palolo Valley

Ebola could become tool of terrorism

We all know terrorists have no regard for human life.They feed on fear.So how’s this scary scenario:Theyemploy a newsuicide-type mission.Instead of a real bomb, they recruit someone infected with Ebola.That person knows he’s going to die anyway, so the recruit is willing to die for the cause.

That person already carries the ingredients for the destruction of life:blood and other bodily fluids.Early enough in the mission, without symptoms,they get through airport security. They board aplane, hack a cough, or spray everyone with a mist of bodily fluids when we’re all breathing the same circulated air for hours.Or they infect any other critical mass by tainting or contamination.

Germ warfare?Ebola is a serious public health threat.We need to isolate and contain it now.The fearwill be catastrophic for our economy.People won’t fly or travel. Peoplewill not dine out at restaurants.

I’m worried.Are you?

Lisa Adlong
Hauula

Rail will increase GET revenue

Every now and then an anti-rail proponent complains about the general excise tax surcharge for the rail transit system.I support the GET increase for rail.Rail will bring more revenue than the cost to build and to maintain it.

Beside the fares that the rail will bring in, new revenues will be generated from the construction, operation and maintenance of new housing for those who prefer to live close to the rail and spend less time commuting; to relieve the stress they now experience fighting traffic; to make new friends on the rail; and to enjoy the beautiful Hawaii scenery.

GET revenue will increase from new businesses that support rail and its riders.More GET also will be realized from suppliers who will support these new businesses.GET for rail is a win-win situation.

Roy S. Tanouye
Waipahu

Endorsement shows newspaper is biased

I am amazed the Star-Advertiser would endorse one candidate over another ("David Ige ourchoice for governor," Star-Advertiser, Our View, Oct. 19). I always believed the newspaper to be unbiased and will report the news responsibly, objectively and truthfully.

The paper should respect the citizensof this state, whether Democrat, Republican or Independent, and should not impose on its subscribers a bias toward any candidate.This is not democracy in action.

The members of the University of Hawaii Board of Regentsare requiredto reveal as public recordtheir financial reports. Perhaps we should make it mandatory for the board of directors and editors to make public their financial records, too.

I do respect all the candidates for their willingness to run for governor to serve the people of Hawaii. But I question why I am paying more than $200 as a subscriber to read your biased endorsement,as well as news thatmay be biased or slanted rather than responsible, objective and truthful.

Mary Ann Arakaki
Makiki

(Editor’s note: The endorsements that appear under "Our View" represent the consensus opinion of the Star-Advertiser Editorial Board, and do not represent the views of the reporters and editors who gather and report the news. The Board operates independently of the newsroom. Board members include Dennis Francis, Lucy Young-Oda, Stephen Downes, Vicki Viotti, Christine Donnelly and Mark Coleman.)

Judge wrongly gave Pflueger a jail term

I am appalled by Circuit Judge Randal G.B. Valenciano’s decision to sentence James Pflueger to seven months in jail ("Pflueger gets 7 months in fatal breach of dam," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 16).

In Italy, where I come from, it’s against the law to jail anyone over the age of 80; Pflueger is 88 and in poor health. Furthermore, Pflueger does not bear sole responsibility for the death of those seven people.Before the dam broke, it had been raining for an unprecedented 40 days on Kauai. Furthermore, the state, the county of Kauai and others were all named in a civil lawsuit over the breaking of the dam and all settled.

Valenciano may wish to become famous forhis verdict and for calling Pflueger a "bully," but his decision to immediately remand Pflueger to jail was a cruel act, given Pflueger’s age and health. If anything, Pflueger should be under house arrest, not in jail.

Dialta Alliata di Montereale
Makiki Heights