Election violations The state Campaign Spending Commission plans to refer its investigation into several local contractors to Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle for criminal prosecution.
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By Rick Daysog
rdaysog@starbulletin.comBob Watada, the commission's executive director, told members of the state Campaign Spending Commission yesterday that he hopes to make the criminal referrals in the next several months.
Watada declined to name the companies, but he said that they include several local engineering and architecture firms that gave tens of thousands of dollars in excess political contributions to the campaigns of Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris, Gov. Ben Cayetano and Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana.
The city prosecutor's office could not be reached for comment.
Watada's remarks came as the commission voted 4-0 yesterday to fine a local engineering firm $6,500 for making excess contributions and false-name political donations to the Harris and Cayetano campaigns.
Calvin Kim, president of Kim & Shiroma Engineers Inc., admitted that the company made $13,450 in excessive contributions to the Harris campaign and $2,000 in over-the-limit donations to Cayetano.
According to Watada, the company gave money to its employees, who in turn made political donations to the candidates.
Watada said Kim & Shiroma executives cooperated with his investigation after telling him that they were unaware that they broke the law.
