The Big Island Press Club has given the Democratic Party House District 5 Council the “dubious honor” of the 2013 Lava Tube award for its “behind-closed-doors handling of a special election naming three nominees to replace Rep. Denny Coffman,” according to a press release.

District 5 covers Kailua-Kona, Kealakekua, Captain Cook, Ocean View and Naalehu. Coffman stepped down in the middle of his term. 

The press club said of the process to replace Coffman with Richard Creagan: “Because of the lack of transparency, it’s not totally clear who actually selected the three candidates from a field of nine. Creagan, who was chairman of the District 5 Council at the time, recused himself from voting and did not attend the meeting although he had the right to do both, under the rules.”

Mayor Billy Kenoi received the Torch of Light for “his persistence in trying to increase government transparency with a package of ethics reforms.”

The Big Island Press Club gives the Lava Tube and the Torch of Light awards annually on Freedom of Information Day, March 16, the birthday of James Madison. 

Photo: James Madison. (cliff1066™)

—Chad Blair