The Campaign Spending Commission told City Councilman Mike Gabbard on Monday to correct his campaign spending report after violations were uncovered. Mike Gabbard cited
for errors in campaign
spending reportBy Leila Fujimori
lfujimori@starbulletin.comMichael Golojuch Jr., a former candidate for the state House and a member of Voters Against Corrupt Government, had filed a complaint against Gabbard and his daughter, state Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo (D, Waipahu-Ewa), alleging Gabbard created a company through which he funneled money to hide expenses for both campaigns.
"On the surface, it would appear that Mike Gabbard is simply benefiting from the campaign," said Bob Watada, executive director of the Campaign Spending Commission.
Watada said Gabbard set up Infotech Communications LLC to buy advertising and supplies for signs and T-shirts, rather than have the campaign purchase the supplies directly.
The Gabbards reported expenditures to Infotech, but since it was a Mike Gabbard company, they should have reported the original vendors from whom they bought the supplies, Watada said.
Gabbard told the commission that the company was used as a pass-through to buy advertising at a discount, Watada said.
If these violations are corrected, Watada said the complaint will likely be dismissed.
A memo from Gabbard's campaign sent to the Star-Bulletin yesterday said, "The bogus allegations submitted to the Campaign Spending Commission and today's false news release are but the latest in an ongoing smear campaign against the Gabbards by Golojuch and an atheist organization."
Golojuch responded: "If these were bogus allegations, the Campaign Spending Commission would have dismissed them." He added that the Hawaii Citizens for Separation of State and Church, of which he is a vice president, had nothing to do with the complaint.
Campaign Spending Commission