Arsene “Blackie” Gardarian did many things on Maui: bar owner, machinist, jazz enthusiast, county liquor commissioner, curmudgeon. It was in that last role that he really seemed to shine. In fact, Gadarian was an inveterate letter writer–mostly to The Maui News.
He passed away in 2013 at the age of 91, but his wife Sara recently emailed some excerpts from a few of his letters on elections, a subject he obviously held dear. We’re reprinting them here as a public service to our readers:
It happens every election. The politicians kiss our okoles to get our vote. After the politicians get elected, we the people have to kiss their okoles to get them to do what they promised us. (August 1998)
It’s election time again. Political candidates make speeches that sound wonderful. They go on and on. However, these speeches are like a Chinese dinner. It’s great at the time, but it doesn’t stick with you. (March 2000)
Here we are again in an election year. Candidates will be talking about many problems they would solve if elected. They will speak of millions of citizens going to bed hungry every night. I am one of those citizens. I am on a diet. (February 2004)
It’s election time again. Politicians are making promises that they know are outright lies. We, the public, know they are lies. But we vote for the politician who tells us the most appealing lie. We deserve what we get for being gullible again. (October 2008)
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Photo courtesy Sara Gadarian
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