HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0787.003 2010-2012 comments supporting Comm. 787 (Res. 280-12) Public Funding for Elections
for Hawai'i County Council Committee on Governmental Relations
9:30 AM Tuesday, July 31, 2012, Hilo County Building
by Cory Harden, PO Box 10265, Hilo, Occupied Hawai'i 96721 808-968-8965 mh interpac.net
A look at donors to three local candidates shows why we need public funding.
For Mayor Billy Kenoi, less than half of about $388,000 in donations came from this island. He got 12
donations of$4,000, all from off-island. He held two thousand-dollar-a-plate fundraisers in Honolulu.
Other donations came from executives of legal and engineering firms that have bid on county contracts.
Kenoi raises$388,249 for race, Hawai'i Tribune-Herald, 7-15-12
Councilmember Fred Bias received $500 from Honua Group LLC, says the State Campaign Spending
Commission website.
The State DCCA (Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs) website listing for Honua shows
Roberta Cabral as an agent and manager. The Honolulu Advertiser reported that Cabral was "indicted on
federal charges of wire fraud and tax evasion", pled guilty in November 2002, and was sentenced to 10
months in prison.
Rutledge pleas agreement called a `travesty', Honolulu Advertiser, 8-26-05
DCCA gives the same address for Honua and IDG (Innovations Development Group). DCCA lists the
same person, Nainoa Kuna, as a manager for Honua and as treasurer/director for IDG. IDG, of course, is
promoting geothermal development.
Councilmember Dennis Onishi, like Kenai, got less than half of his donations from this island. Onishi's
second biggest donor was the co-founder of`Aina Koa Pono. They proposed a biofuel plant in Kohala, to
be subsidized by rate hikes for electric customers. Fortunately, the Public Utilities Commission did not
approve it. Other donors were a Political Action Committee for resorts; architectural, engineering, and
construction firms; carpenter organizations; and unions.
Hilo councilmember rakes in off-island bucks, Big Island Weekly, 2-7-12
Nationally"less than one-quarter of 1 percent of Americans made itemized contributions to political
campaigns in 2010—yet they accounted for more than 90 percent of the money raised". That's not the
tail wagging the dog—that's the flea wagging the dog. The numbers are from Alan Simpson, a former
senator from Wyoming and co-chair of Americans for Campaign Reform.
Why the GOP should support publicly funded campaigns, Washington Post editorial by Alan
Simpson, 5-5-11, http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-the-qop-should-support-publicly-
funded-campaigns/2011/05/04/AFDDH21 F story.html
Back in Hawai'i County, the three-election pilot public funding program did not increase voter turnout as
hoped. But the Tribune-Herald reports"renewed interest in running for County Council races, bringing
more challengers, sharpening the debate and forcing incumbents to return to their districts and talk to
their constituents instead of accepting donations from special interests."
Mixed results for public election aired, Hawai'i Tribune-Herald, 9-21-10
I support public funding of elections. Mahalo.
Comm. No. 7 7. 3
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