Yoshimura 'lied' about 1999 accident
By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Capitol Bureau Chief
City Council Chairman Jon Yoshimura acknowledged yesterday he lied about a 1999 accident in which he hit a parked car and then drove off.
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Yoshimura made the admission in an unusual press conference he called late yesterday. After talking about the accident, Yoshimura, a Democrat, said he plans to run for lieutenant governor in 2002.
City Council Chairman Jon Yoshimura said he was "afraid of what people would think."
The timing of the admission, before he has officially declared his candidacy, suggests it was an attempt to get in front of a potentially embarrassing issue that may be raised in the campaign.
When questioned in the months after the accident, Yoshimura said he got into his car in the early morning hours of July 13, 1999 on Auahi Street in front of KHON-TV immediately after leaving work as the station's public affairs director. He said he had not been drinking.
Yoshimura said yesterday he went from work to Ryan's Grill, where he had one drink with a friend before returning to his car. Yoshimura said he was not drunk, but was afraid people would think he was.
Yoshimura hit a parked car as he was leaving, but told reporters two years ago he thought he hit a utility pole. Yesterday, Yoshimura said, "I didn't know what I had hit. It was dark and I left."
A witness took down Yoshimura's license number and called police, who drove to Yoshimura's Makiki home to cite him. Yoshimura was fined $35 for leaving the scene of an accident, and said insurance paid for the damage to both cars.
Yoshimura yesterday apologized to his supporters and family. He said he hopes people will forgive him and acknowledge some of his accomplishments as a City Council member.
"It's something that I've wanted to do for a long time," he said. "It's something that's been with me for a couple of years. I made a mistake. I was afraid of what people would think. I was embarrassed, and I'm coming forward now to make it right."
Carol McNamee, founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving Hawai'i, said MADD hopes the incident will be a "wake-up call" for Yoshimura.
"This revelation demonstrates that even one drink can impair a person's judgment, driving skills and sense of responsibility," McNamee said. "Although some people may feel that they are immune to becoming impaired after drinking only small amounts, anyone can suffer some effects from consuming alcohol and then driving."
Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.
