Hannemann gets OK to
manage commission budget

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

City Council Chairman Mufi Hannemann has the right to oversee how the Charter Commission spends its funds. That's the view of the Charter Commission Vice Chairman Ed Hirata.

Chairman Lex Brodie resigned last week. Brodie said his decision was prompted by what he described as micromanagement of the commission's budget by Hannemann.

The commission requested $50,000 for a contract with advertising firm McNeil Wilson Communications to educate voters. Hannemann said the amount should be closer to $35,000.

"My feeling was we should just live within the amounts allotted to us," Hirata said. "Having worked at City Hall and the state, I know full well that the agency that appropriates the funds has control over the funds."

Hirata has been, among other things, state transportation director, city managing director, city transportation services director and water manager.

Brodie, in his letter of resignation, said he met three times with Hannemann or his staff and was told that the commission should not be spending $50,000 of its $75,000 on voter education on November's Charter amendment proposals.

Brodie, a longtime businessman, said he felt the commission's independence was being jeopardized.

"Special interests should not be allowed to pressure the commission," Brodie concluded.

Hannemann, in a letter to Brodie, acknowledges trying to get the commission to reduce its voter education fund, saying the commission must still allocate funding for any education campaign it might need in the year 2000.

He also noted that even if only $35,000 is allocated to McNeil Wilson, the commission is spending an additional $13,000 for other purposes including the printing of brochures and the translation of Charter wording into Ilocano and Japanese.

Commission member Bob Fishman said he had no knowledge that Hannemann was trying to pressure Brodie into lowering the voter education budget.

"But I take Lex at his word, obviously," Fishman said. "He's never fibbed to me."

Six members of the 13-member commission were chosen by Hannemann and six by Mayor Jeremy Harris. One member is chosen by the mayor and appointed by the Council. Brodie and Fishman are among Harris' picks. Hirata was chosen by Hannemann.