John DeSoto, Jeremy Harris and Arnold Morgado

Both sides yesterday were raising questions about who prodded City Council Chairman John DeSoto to consider introducing the repeal measure.

DeSoto last night denied he is introducing the bill on either candidate's behalf and said he's staying neutral in the election.

Both men are "good friends," DeSoto said. Morgado has "been like a brother" while Harris "has helped my community also."

The law says anyone receiving a nonbid contract or land use permit from the city since 1995 cannot participate in this year's campaigns for mayor or prosecutor.

DeSoto's measure would eliminate those restrictions.

Harris campaign spokesman Jim Loomis said his side is "adamantly opposed" to a repeal.

He noted "it is our understanding that our opponent has lobbied the City Council, the governor and the attorney general to have the law either appealed or voided."

Morgado, however, denied asking DeSoto or anyone else to have the law invalidated. He doesn't want the law repealed but does want to see it fine-tuned.

"From the very beginning, it was my strong belief that for the law to have any meaning at all and to have any effect, it would have to be clarified."

Harris supporters have accused the Morgado campaign of illegal fund-raising. They pointed to letters of support for Morgado written by Dennis Mitsunaga, a contractor and consultant who has received nonbid contracts from the city, as proof.

Morgado has said that while he doesn't think Mitsunaga has done anything wrong. He said both the law and the most recent interpretation of it by Corporation Counsel Darolyn Lendio, a Harris appointee, are flawed.

He noted that the corporation counsel's office has had six interpretations on the ethics law. All but Lendio's last opinion would allow Mitsunaga to raise funds for him.

Morgado added that the draft bill sent to DeSoto's office yesterday included a letter from Deputy Corporation Counsel Jane Howell with yet a seventh interpretation of the law. Howell's conclusion, he said, is that the law is illegal.

Carol Costa, spokesperson for the administration, said: "That's an opinion she has had dating back to the days when this was originally debated by the City Council (in the early 1990s)."

DeSoto said he's introducing the repeal measure because Council colleagues and "a lot of people out there" have objections to the ethics law.

Howell's latest opinion adds fuel to the fire, DeSoto said.

The law is unfair because it allows nondeclared candidates to raise funds from those with nonbid contracts or discretionary permits, he said.

"Only the wealthy would be the ones running for office," DeSoto said.

"It's a fairness issue."

He noted that Councilman Andy Mirikitani, who introduced the measure, still owes his family a substantial amount of money for campaign loans.

Mirikitani said he's opposed to DeSoto's attempt to repeal his law.

"This new ethics reform law is one of the toughest in the nation to reduce the undue influence of lobbyists and special interests receiving development approvals and nonbid contracts," Mirikitani said. "Therefore, it's not surprising that some are finding the law inconvenient."

Mirikitani said he supports Lendio's interpretation that would include Mitsunaga among those forbidden from participating in this year's city elections.

DeSoto and Councilwoman Donna Mercado Kim were the only current members to oppose the bill. Morgado also opposed the bill which was signed by Harris.