Beverly Wolff Harbin
From dKosopedia
Beverly Wolff Harbin (born Jan. 26, 1945), a member of the Democratic Party since July 18, 2005, prior to that a Republican, was appointed by Gov.Linda Lingle to replace Kenneth Hiraki as representative of the 28th Representative District in the Hawaii State House of Representatives on September 16, 2005. Hiraki had taken a position as governmental affairs director at Hawaiian Telecom. Harbin had joined the Democratic Party three days after Hiraki announced his intention to resign. This appointment dissappointed the Democratic Party as they had submitted a list of four longtime Democratic Party members who were longtime residents (Karl Rhoads, Roy Benham, Peter Leong and Kevin Mulligan) of the district for the Governor's consideration for Hiraki's seat. Harbin was not among the four nominees for the vacancy presented to the governor by the Democratic Party of Hawaii. The 28th District includes downtown, Kakaako, Iwilei and parts of Makiki.
Harbin, president and chief executive of the Employers' Chamber of Commerce, is a small business advocate and anxious to talk to fellow Democrats as a peer on the special issues that are confronting the small-business community. She plans to work on issues such as health care, workers' compensation, the state's gasoline price cap law and the general excise tax. Harbin had originally stated she had no plans to seek re-election when her term expired, but has since announced her intention to run. She is opposed in the primary by attorney and neighborhood activist Karl Rhoads. [1]
In a statement, House Speaker Calvin K. Y. Say congratulated Harbin. "I've had the pleasure of knowing Ms. Harbin for many years," he said. "She is well known in the community as a small-business advocate, and I hope that she will be a productive contributor to the House on small-business issues."[2]
In September 2005, shortly after her appointment, it was revealed that a company of Harbin's, Hon/Hawaii Service and Repair had recieved two state tax liens of $123,000 in total, and was sued for moneys owed and back rent unpaid in the mid 1990s. Harbin was also found to have been arrested and found guilty of three cases of passing bad checks. [3]
On September 27, Governor Lingle asked Harbin to resign. But, Harbin had already been sworn in and Hawaii law does not allow Lingle to rescind the appointment. The conviction involved misdemeanors, which does not prevent Harbin from holding office, as would a felony count. [4]
In a KHON2 online article posted on January 8, 2006, Harbin is considering a bid for governor as a Democrat. [5]
In March 2006, Harbin attempted to resign from four committee appointments saying she hoped to work exclusively on the needs of her constituents and the small business community, writing on her blog, "I regret that my reluctance to serve on committees for which many high-school students are more qualified than I am is perceived or portrayed as a shirking of duty." [6]
Contact
Hawaii State Capitol, Room 332
415 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
phone: 808-586-6180;
fax: 808-586-6189
e-mail: repharbin@Capitol.hawaii.gov
Committees:
External Links
- DePledge, Derrick. Replacement picked for open House seat Honolulu Advertiser, 9-17-05.
- Reyes, B.J. Small-business advocate to fill Hiraki’s seat Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 9-17-05.
- Borreca, Richard. Lingle’s pick has financial baggage -- New state Rep. Bev Harbin owes $123,000 in business taxes Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 9-21-05.
- Song, Jaymes. Lingle appointee will not heed calls to step down -- Harbin says criticism over her party switch and unpaid taxes is mudslinging "politics" Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 9-23-05.
- Borreca, Richard. Lingle’s pick has criminal record -- State Rep. Bev Harbin was found guilty of passing bad checks Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 9-27-05.
- Borreca, Richard. Harbin refuses gov, won’t resign -- Gov. Lingle's chief of staff says the legislator lied by omission and now doubts whether she can work effectively » Constituents want Harbin out Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 9-28-05.
- Harbin should resign -- or be forced out THE ISSUE The troubled appointee was convicted on bad check charges and has refused the governor's request to resign. Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 9-28-05.
- DePledge, Derrick. Harbin on advisory board Honolulu Advertiser, 10-1-05.
- Borreca, Richard. Lingle suffers in picking Harbin -- Critics say her choice was unusual to begin with and damaging in light of revelations Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 10-2-05.
- White, Doug. Harbin defies Governor and categorization Poinography!, 10-2-05.
- Kewalo plan draws opposition -- A group that includes frequent surfers assails the proposed retail redevelopment of 65 acres By Rosemarie Bernardo Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 11-7-05.,
- Reyes, B.J. Harbin aims to win some supporters Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 1-9-07.
- Mangieri, Gina. Challenger to take on Harbin; she mulls governor race KHON2.
- White, Doug. Harbin may have taken parody blog seriously Poinography!, 1/8/2006.
- White, Doug. Lingle closely watches … her protege act out again Poinography!, 2-1-06.
- White, Doug. Harbin and Stevens sign Grover Norquist’s pledge Poinography!, 2-16-06.
- White, Doug. Harbin wants to ride the bench on 4 of her 5 assignments Poinography!, 2-20-06.
- White, Doug. Bev Harbin - Blog goes live Poinography!, 3-1-06.
- White, Doug. Foxes strongly against enhanced chicken coop protection Poinography!, 3-4-06.
- White, Doug. Legislator bullies blogger operating parody website Poinography!, June 22, 2006.
- Niesse, Mark. Rep. Harbin's lawsuit threat forces artist to shut Web site Honolulu Star-Bulletin, June 30, 2006.
- Fry, David. Rep. Bev Harbin: Many High-school Students More Qualified Than I Am DavidFry.com, July, 23, 2006.
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