Molokai farmer picked to serve in state House

Gov. David Ige announced Thursday the appointment of state Board of Agriculture member Lynn DeCoite to serve as representative of state House District 13, which includes East Maui, Molo­kai, Lanai and Kahoolawe.

The seat was vacated when former state Rep. Diana "Mele" Carroll resigned Feb. 1 due to complications from her cancer treatments. Carroll died Wednesday.

DeCoite lives in Hoo­le­hua on Molo­kai, where she is an owner of L&R Farm Enterprises and R.J.’s Snacks, and co-owner of V-8 Ranch.

DeCoite has served on the Board of Agriculture since 2012 but will resign from the board to assume her new responsibilities.

"I’m confident Ms. DeCoite knows the issues facing the district and will listen to her constituents to address their concerns," Ige said in a written statement. "She has deep roots in the community, and is committed to overcoming the challenges by forming partnerships and working collaboratively."

In a written statement, DeCoite said, "I’m deeply honored to serve the community in this capacity. This is an opportunity for me to help address issues like drought, food gathering and security, emergency response programs, and the promotion of economic development for small and large businesses."

The DeCoite appointment drew immediate criticism from anti-GMO organization Babes Against Biotech, which had urged Maui Demo­crats to select someone other than DeCoite to forward to Ige for his consideration.

"Lynn DeCoite is a GMO corn planter engaged in a contract with Monsanto, which is one of the world’s most vile chemical companies, and has poisoned thousands of people," said Nomi Carmona, president of Babes Against Biotech.

"There is over half a million dollars of funding in the elected officials’ campaign funds, and we do not need another elected official with financial ties to Monsanto, much less someone profiting from the chemical industry which is exposing Hawaii to undisclosed pesticides and using us as an open-air laboratory," Carmona said.

DeCoite was unavailable to respond. She is scheduled to take her oath of office Friday.

In 2007, DeCoite was the winner of the Maui County Mayor’s Small Business Award.

She served as chairwoman of the Maui County Farm Service Agency and as president of the Molo­kai Homestead Farmers Alliance. In addition, DeCoite is a former Molo­kai Planning Commission board member and a former Parent Teacher Student Organization president for Molo­kai Middle School. She was also part of the Molo­kai Workforce Development Agricultural Working Group.

Carmona said many people are "very disappointed" with this latest action by the governor, especially in the wake of his controversial appointment of Castle & Cooke Hawaii lobbyist Carleton Ching as chairman of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

"I think it’s really concerning, and people are feeling betrayed by someone they just voted into office. A lot of people are very disappointed."