LIHUE — The Kauai County Council voted Wednesday to confirm Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.’s nomination of two-year Kauai resident Allan Parachini to the Charter Review Commission. “I’m gratified that the County Council showed willingness to hear me out,” Parachini wrote
LIHUE — The Kauai County Council voted Wednesday to confirm Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.’s nomination of two-year Kauai resident Allan Parachini to the Charter Review Commission.
“I’m gratified that the County Council showed willingness to hear me out,” Parachini wrote in an email to The Garden Island. “I felt welcomed and believed. I think that was reflected in the final vote.”
Prior to the council’s decision, Parachini addressed a 2010 controversy — one that surfaced during last week’s meeting — in which he was fired from his job as spokesman for the Los Angeles County Superior Court following accusations that he leaked confidential information to the celebrity gossip site TMZ.com.
Parachini said the issue is “well out in the public record,” and that in the 24 hours leading up to Wednesday’s council meeting, there had been “extensive exchanges” between his attorneys and attorneys representing media company BuzzFeed, which he said posted a “libelous piece” about him in July reiterating those false allegations.
On Wednesday afternoon, BuzzFeed ran a correction on the reference story that reads: “This story has been updated to clarify that the allegations against Allan Parachini were never substantiated and were disputed by Mr. Parachini. Further, BuzzFeed has been advised that the Court was never able to identify any specific instance or example where Mr. Parachini ever compromised any confidentiality, and that any dispute between Mr. Parachini and the Court arising from his termination was resolved.”
“What I told my lawyers yesterday is, ‘I will not tolerate anyone calling me a criminal,’” Parachini told the council Wednesday.
The council ultimately voted 6-1 to confirm Parachini’s nomination. His three-year term begins Jan. 1.
Councilman Gary Hooser cast the lone dissenting vote. He said Parachini made “disparaging remarks” when he introduced Bill 2491, a county law relating pesticides and genetically modified crops, for personal political gain.
“I don’t see that as something that helps dialogue and relationships, when you question the motivations and character of decision-makers. Question actions, but not motivation and character,” Hooser told Parachini.
