Election spending
panel cracks down

Missing files and late filing
by candidates have triggered
the board's stricter rules

By Mike Yuen
Star-Bulletin

If you plan to examine reports that candidates have filed with the state Campaign Spending Commission, don't be surprised if you are watched more closely.

You will be.

And in a related move by the commission, candidates and noncandidate campaign committees are being put on notice: Don't expect commission staffers to do the work that you're required to do under state law.

This means:

Reports filed by facsimile machine will no longer be accepted.

The commission's photocopying machine will no longer be available so that candidates can meet their filing requirements.

The commission's tougher stance comes at a time when more than a half dozen reports have disappeared from the commission's third-floor office in the Leiopapa o Kamehameha Building, including those for Michael Liu, the unsuccessful Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, and City Councilman John DeSoto, who easily won re-election in his nonpartisan race 10 days ago.

Usually, only one candidate's file would disappear in an election period, said commission Executive Director Robert Watada.

But the problem has expanded this year, and Watada doubts that it is because the state doubled the per-page copying cost to 50 cents.

Perhaps it is just people who, tired of copying information by hand, quietly slip files into their bags and walk out, he said.

What people apparently don't know is that the campaign spending reports are available through the Internet -- the commission's Web address is http://www.hawaii.gov/campaign -- and reports can be downloaded for free, Watada said.

Like reference works in a public library, the reports are not allowed to leave the commission's office.

The files that have disappeared have not caused a major problem because the commission keeps originals in a back room, but it is bothersome to have to recreate a public file, Watada said.

Watada sent a memo dated yesterday to all 1998 candidates and campaign committees saying faxed reports will not be accepted and that the commission will no longer copy reports for candidates.

During a recent filing deadline, the commission's fax machine was tied up for two days, Watada said. Reports, by law, must be filed by 4:30 p.m.

But some sent by fax have come as late as midnight, although senders have claimed they were sent at 3:30 p.m.

It was about four years ago when candidates and committees were allowed to fax their reports if there were only two or three pages.

If a copy doesn't accompany the original as required by law, there will be a $50 fine.

The next filing deadline is Oct. 9.