Same-sex
marriage camp
spends on staff

A good part of funds raised
went to pay workers

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

Two of the groups opposing passage of a Nov. 3 measure allowing the state Legislature to ban same-sex marriage have used a good share of their funds to pay campaign staffers.

Political action committees on both sides of the issue, meanwhile, are spending big dollars on consulting and advertising.

More than a million dollars has poured in from across the country to the political action committees from the two sides, according to disclosures filed with the state Campaign Spending Commission yesterday.

It's hard to tell, however, which side is winning the contributions war since several other groups involved in the debate failed to file by yesterday's deadline.

The Washington, D.C.-based Protect Our Constitution/Human Rights Campaign has collected $684,843 during the same eight-month period. The related, Honolulu-based Protect Our Constitution has raised $72,864.

Those two groups say passage of the Nov. 3 measure before Hawaii voters would erode civil rights for all groups including gays.

Protect Our Constitution/Human Rights Campaign lists among its expenditures nine payments totaling $22,354 to David Smith, the group's spokesman.

More than $30,000 was paid to at least five others under the description "salaries and wages," according to the spending report.

The group has also paid local public relations/advertising firm Professional Communications $233,172; Washington D.C.-based consultants CPG $48,181; and Los Angeles-based consultant Susan Burnside $31,858.

Protect Our Constitution, the local organization, lists among expenditures nine payments totaling $23,500 to Jackie Young, its campaign director.

Another $13,000 in "campaign assistance services" went to five other individuals.

The group made 11 payments to public relations specialist Steve Okino totaling $19,000.

The campaign spending disclosure filed by Save Traditional Marriage '98 show the group has raised $547,162 since Jan. 1 in its effort to pass a proposed constitutional amendment that could ban same-sex marriage in Hawaii.

The group has paid consulting fees to the firm of Rosehill and Associates $104,160.

Among gubernatorial candidates, who were also required to turn in reports, Gov. Ben Cayetano continues to have spent the most money.

Maui Mayor Linda Lingle, however, collected roughly three times as much money as Cayetano for the period from Aug. 21 to Sept. 4.

Former Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi, Lingle's opponent in the Republican primary, continues to gather loans. Loans from himself or family went up $147,470 and now total $495,408.

The Democratic Party reported total receipts of $220,678 and total disbursements of $142,661.

Among the contributors were Friends for Ben Cayetano ($47,000), contracting firm Mitsunaga and Associates ($10,000), First Hawaiian Bank ($5,000), Hawaiian and Aloha airlines ($5,000 each), U.S. Reps. Patsy Mink ($5,000) and Neil Abercrombie ($2,500).

The Republican Party reported total receipts of $62,272 and total disbursements of $10,875.

Among the contributors were the Republican Party of New Mexico ($26,000), the Dole Food Co. of California ($13,000) and the Phillip Morris Management Co. ($1,250).