Originally published Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Comments (0) 
E-mail article 
Print view
Hawaii's tourism chief resigns after e-mail scandal
Racist, sexist and pornographic e-mails forwarded by Rex Johnson, head of Hawaii Tourism Authority
The Associated Press
HONOLULU — The head of the state's tourism agency has resigned after coming under fire for forwarding racist, sexist and pornographic e-mails.
Rex Johnson's decision to step down was accepted by the board of the Hawaii Tourism Authority on Wednesday, which called the scandal "a distraction."
The board heard 75 minutes of testimony from 18 supporters and critics of Johnson, who has served in his position for six years.
The board in August reprimanded Johnson verbally and in writing, and cut his salary by $40,000 to $200,000 a year after a state audit found pornographic e-mails on his government computer.
Johnson has repeatedly apologized, saying it a mistake.
But it was later disclosed that Johnson also had received and forwarded e-mails with racist and sexist content on his government computer.
The governor then called for Johnson's ouster.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
E-mail article 
Print view Share: 
Digg 
Newsvine
Thanksgiving travel plans expected to grow slightly
Ask Travel: A free day in Prague
Ban Long Lao is a peek at traditional Hmong village life
Raw Video | Real Salt Lake receives the MLS Cup trophy
Real Salt Lake is handed the 2009 MLS Cup trophy at Qwest Field, November 22, 2009.
Raw Video | Real Salt Lake fans celebrate
Real Salt Lake fans enter Qwest Field
Raw Video | MLS Cup Opening Ceremony
LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman
MLS trophy arrives in Seattle
Chittenden Locks Inspection
Full interview with New Moon actors
Interview with New Moon actors
nwjobs
Post a comment
Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos
Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
Open Houses | Find this weekend's open house listings.  Or search by location: |
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Tugboat sinks at Seattle waterfront pier
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
- Denny Triangle gains skyline, but tenants slow to come
- Snow piles up on Cascade slopes
- Woman stabbed by stranger in North Seattle
- Husky Men's Basketball Blog | Saturday's Pac-10 games in review
- Vikings easily beat the Seahawks 134
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000 129
- Palin excitement builds in Tri-Cities 123
- Tight Senate vote launches health care over hurdle 122
- Cutting through breast-cancer confusion 90
- Prosecutor requests life in prison for Amanda Knox 89
- Historic health care bill clears Senate hurdle 83
- Game thread 70
- New York terror trials will restore faith in rule of law 63
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors 54
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list
- Banff: powder, peaks & purity
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Denny Triangle gains skyline, but tenants slow to come
- Protect yourself from baggage loss
- Northwest Living | On Whidbey, a unified home from multiple recycled parts
- Rediscovering Moab, 'the most beautiful place on Earth'
