Lawmakers draft bills for recounts in close elections
HONOLULU — At least three state senators are drafting legislation that would require automatic recounts in close election races.
The bills being drafted seek to avoid or more quickly resolve election disputes such as the one ongoing for a Honolulu City Council seat.
The council is still without a ninth member after candidate Tommy Waters challenged Trevor Ozawa’s 22-vote victory in the last election.
The state does not require recounts in tight races, but it does allow legal challenges of results based on certain criteria.
Candidates, the involved political party or 30 voters from the involved district can file a complaint with the state Supreme Court within 20 days after the election if they can show cause, such as fraud or voting irregularities.
The state Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on Waters’ challenge. The court could order a recount or a new election if it sides with Waters.
State Sen. Stanley Chang, a Democrat, said he is preparing to submit a bill that would require a hand recount in tight races.
State Sen. Laura Thielen, also a Democrat, is introducing a bill that would require recounts in cases where the number of votes is within half a percentage point.
Her bill includes a provision that would require recounts within nine days.
State Sen. Gil Keith-Agaran, a Democrat, said he is speaking with colleagues about introducing a bill requiring recounts in elections where the margin is less than 250 votes or 1 percent of votes.
Man sentenced for killing and dismembering mom
HONOLULU — A man who admitted to killing and dismembering his mother during an argument in their Honolulu apartment was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Yu Wei Gong was charged with murder after he called police in 2017 to turn himself in after a suicide attempt. He admitted killing his mother, Liu Yun Gong, about six months earlier, according to court documents. When officers asked where his mother was, he said “in the fridge.”
An officer searched the freezer and found human remains, including two arms with hands and a decapitated head, in numerous plastic trash bags, court documents said.
Last year, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter, avoiding a life sentence. His defense attorney and the prosecutor in the case said it’s a deal the victim’s family supports.
Gong was sentenced to 20 years for manslaughter and 10 years for identity theft, to be served separately. A one-year sentence for abuse of a corpse is to be served at the same time. Gong will receive credit for time he’s already served.
The identity theft charge stems from Gong paying rent with his mom’s checking account.
A parole board will determine the minimum number of years Gong must serve. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Wayne Tashima said his office won’t recommend less than 20 years.