Daily Archives: August 12, 2022

Elections 2022: COVID19 funds commingled with campaign donations questioned

Dr. Richard Creagan, a retired and board certified emergency medicine physician and farmer speaks about Lt. Governor/Dr. Josh Green’s questionable record

Aloha,

My name is Richard Creagan, M.D. I served as a state representative in District 5 on the Big Island from 2014-2020. District 5 is part of Senate District 3 which was Josh Green’s Senate seat so I know Josh very well.

I have been made aware of the allegations below which are being actively investigated by the campaign spending commission. As a retired and board certified emergency medicine physician, myself, I have gotten to know Josh Green very well and was shocked by his claim to be an “emergency room physician” despite his inadequate training and numerous complaints against him.

I was also a state representative for seven years from Josh’s Senate district and saw his dishonesty and unethical behavior play out in the legislative arena.

In my view he would bring great shame to Hawaii if elected governor. He is however very good at fooling people and I have been saddened to see the press not realizing Josh’s many flaws.

This may be an opportunity to stop a disaster for our state.

I became aware of the allegations below and volunteered to help the press let the people of Hawaii know the truth about the “teflon” candidate.

I am writing as a concerned voter regarding the Campaign Spending Commission’s investigation of a COVID testing company.

As HNN published on August 8, the state Campaign Spending Commission is investigating one of the companies that was awarded a multi-million dollar COVID testing contract by former Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration.

However, I believe there is another COVID testing company that should also be investigated: Nomi Health Inc. I would also like to reference this article by Politico, which states, “Various state officials across the country criticized Nomi Health throughout 2020 as it quickly started snagging state pandemic contracts worth tens of millions of dollars.”

Nomi Health and another company it owns called Artemis Health have donated to a major candidate in Hawaii: Lieutenant Governor Josh Green.

Below, I have provided donations from the company and its executives to the LG’s (Dr. Josh Green) campaign committee.

Meet and Greet Donations:

$2,917.64 Artemis Health, 6/17/22 (Meet and Greet Event)

$2,674.32 Artemis Health 6/17/22 (Professional Services Meet and Greet)

$2,083.99 Blake Waggoner, 6/17/22, Nomi Health Managing Director, (Meet and Greet)

Direct Donations

$5,000, Nomi Health Inc, 2/11/22

$1,000, Mark Newman, Nomi Health CEO, 2/11/22

$5,000, Mark Newman, Nomi Health CEO, 6/21/22

$5,000, Amber Newman, (wife of Mark Newman) 6/21/22

$2,500, Jonathan Lee, Nomi Health Government Affairs, 6/30/22

Total: $26,175.95

Given the national media attention and criticism of Nomi Health, I believe it is critical that there is some investigation of their contract with the State of Hawaii. And perhaps more importantly, given that Nomi Health and its acquired company Artemis Health have donated a substantial amount of money to the LG’s bid for Governor, I believe our voters need to have more information on this matter before the election.

There may be several campaign violations that the CSC should investigate. Per HRS §11-355, it is unlawful for campaign committees to receive contributions from state and county contractors.

If Nomi Health had an active contract with the state or county at the time of its donation to Josh Green, this donation was illegal.

Nomi Health is still operating across the state today. Nomi Health acquired Artemis Health.

Therefore, it is possible that their aggregate contributions to Josh Green exceed $6,000.00, the max donation allowed for 4-year statewide office.

The money donated on June 17 for a meet and greet ($8395.95), coupled with the nearly $50,000 in high-dollar mainland contributions to Josh Green on June 21, may be indicative of a fundraiser.

If so, fundraisers on June 17 and June 21 were not filed with the campaign spending commission.

Like the current investigation with Mayor Caldwell, the CSC may wish to examine if the donations provided by Nomi Health executives Blake Waggoner and Jonathan Lee were reimbursed by Nomi Health which would be a violation of Hawaii campaign finance laws.

I understand that the election is tomorrow. However, these are serious concerns voters need to know about immediately. It is gravely concerning if Josh Green accepted campaign donations from a company with an active state or county emergency COVID-19 contract, especially considering the LG’s role throughout the pandemic.

Please confirm receipt of this email, and please let me know if you will be inquiring with the Campaign Spending Commission.

Yours truly, Richard Creagan, M.D (808) 430-5715 rcreagan2021@gmail.com

Elections 2022: Since when did questioning or expecting accountability of a public official “nasty”?

Hawaii’s Gubernatorial has three top-contenders for the position. The incumbent Lt. Governor Dr. Josh Green has the tendencies to embellish events and information during this campaign. The Sierra Club and Hawaii GMO Justice Coalition recently publicly protested against Dr. Green’s inaccurate advertisements and in claiming credit to promote himself. Other residents have reported Dr. Green for Free Speech violations by deleting or blocking their comments and so on

Second District Congressman Kai Kahele is a Hawaiian native, with a strong and outspoken personality who is not afraid to question the establishment and to ask for clarity and disclosures. Kahele is also a combat veteran, pilot, and a commissioned officer in the Hawai’i Air National Guard.

Vicky Cayetano has not pursued this Hawaiian-based issue against Josh Green like the native son of Hawaii has.

The Controversy – Hawaii’s Department of Hawaiian Homestead Lands (DHHL) is notoriously known for its long waitlist to service housing for Hawaiians. Many Hawaiians have passed away without being served.

Dr. Josh Green, a white man who is married to Jaime Green, a part Hawaiian, has on multiple occasion embellished his mother-in-law’s history – “Jaime’s mum passed away in her 40s from cancer while on the list”.

However, DHHL says their records could not substantiate that his mother-in-law has or had been an applicant on its wait list. But that does not mean that she might have been qualified to receive an award.

Other Hawaiians are resisting the gubernatorial candidate on this issue, including the former Gov. John Waihee, the first governor of Hawaii ancestry to Civil Beat:

“If she didn’t die on the list, then they should immediately correct that because there are a lot of people whose relatives did die waiting on that list,” Waihee said. “I don’t know what to tell you except you shouldn’t say those kinds of things if they aren’t real.”

Kai Kahele was more plain in his remarks to Hawaii News Now:

“Kahele claims Lt. Gov. Josh Green lied when speaking about his mother-in-law and Hawaiian Home Lands in order to score political points.

“Saying it once could be a mistake, but continuing to say it again is something that needs to be addressed,” Kahele said. “If you want to be the governor of this state, words matter.”

Response from the political pundit raises questions:

HNN political analyst Colin Moore says he can’t remember a time when local politics has been this “nasty.” “Jamie Green’s mom died when she was 42. There’s a person at the center of this and that is the failure of the state of Hawaii to provide people homes,” said Moore.

The political pundit’s response raises these questions:

  1. When was questioning and setting the facts straight from a political candidate for a public office considered “nasty“?

2. What about accountability from a candidate? What if the son-in-law Green did NOT embellish his mother-in-law’s history to gain affinity votes from Hawaiians?

The public and other candidates have the right to question and DUTY to set the record straight in a democratic election. Political pundits should remember to be objective and circumspect of the issues in favor of the public good.