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Hannemann is
too intimidating to
run city, Harris says

The challenger says the mayor
is attacking his style to divert
attention from serious issues

Harris has outspent Hannemann

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By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

Mayor Jeremy Harris attacked challenger Mufi Hannemann last night, calling him too confrontational and intimidating to run Honolulu.

Hannemann, in response, said Harris is attacking his style to divert attention away from substantive issues because he knows he can't win on those points.

The exchange occurred on KHON Fox 2 last night during a live televised debate, the second of three televised mayoral forums.

Harris said that while Hannemann was City Council chairman, city employees were "brow-beaten" and the public "intimidated" from testifying on issues against him.

"The problem is your inability to work with people. If you're going to be mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, you have to be a consensus builder, you have to work for cooperation ... not continual confrontation."

The criticism was a reference to comments made by the mayor and the Council majority that it was primarily Hannemann's personality that led to his ouster from the chair's seat in spring 1999.

Hannemann said his ouster had nothing to do with personalities, but rather his strong opposition to the mayor's budget initiatives.

He said Harris orchestrated his ouster in order to install a Council leadership that "goes along to get along."

The challenger noted that he is getting the endorsements of most major labor unions representing city workers, not Harris.

"Everyone who knows me knows that I'm one of the most accessible persons around," Hannemann said. "I get very passionate, however, when it comes to taxpayers' dollars."

After the debate, Harris said he felt Hannemann's personality was an issue that needed to be brought to the public's attention.

"I just think this is one of the issues the voters need to look at when they decide what it takes to be mayor," Harris said.

Hannemann said he was surprised by Harris' attack.

"People want to hear issues, they don't want to hear sensationalism or allegations that can't be verified."

Hannemann last night also took a shot at Harris' character, accusing him of turning his back on former Mayor Frank Fasi by failing to endorse Fasi's candidacy for governor in 1994.

Harris said he stated publicly that he believed Fasi was the best person to be governor but that "he didn't endorse me, I didn't endorse him." On other points:

Hannemann continued to zero in on the economy, stating that Oahu's population has dropped 13 percent during the last decade and that the city is the fifth most expensive in the country. Harris said he has helped the economy, citing improvements in Waikiki and the bolstering of the sports tourism industry through new facilities.
Harris said the city will be spending $1.8 billion over the next 18 years to improve the sewer system but won't need to raise sewer fees in the next two years. Any other future increases would only be the result of inflation.
Hannemann said he would eliminate most deputy directors and executive assistants, which he believes are being used by Harris for political gain.

Former Mayor Frank Fasi declined to participate in last night's debate.

All three men are scheduled to participate in an hourlong debate on KITV Channel 4 tonight beginning at 7.

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Harris has spent
$815,300 to
Hannemann’s
$609,660

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By Richard Borreca
Star-Bulletin

Mufi Hannemann and Jeremy Harris together are spending about $848 an hour as they drive to control the mayor's office.

According to figures released to the state Campaign Spending Commission yesterday afternoon, in the 70-day period between July 1 and Sept. 8, Harris spent $815,300 -- 33 percent more than Hannemann's $609,660.

Harris has raised nearly 90 percent more than Hannemann, who resigned his City Council post to run against Harris.

The big advantage in funds comes as Harris is leading Hannemann in public opinion polls.

Figures reported do not include a fund-raiser held last week by Harris. Of the $815,000 spent by Harris since July, 45 percent, $370,000, went to Laird Christianson Advertising, to produce and run television and newspaper ads.

So far Harris has picked up $2,382,383 to run for re-election. He brought in only about $150,000 during the July-to-September time period.

In comparison, Hannemann entered the race with $225,483 and has added about $700,000 to his campaign. So while Hannemann has collected money as a faster rate than Harris, the mayor still has a nearly 2-to-1 financial advantage over Hannemann. Former Mayor Frank Fasi is trailing in the race for dollars. He has $181,972 in his treasury and reports spending nearly all of it -- $181,547.

Despite the furious pace that Harris and Hannemann are spending money, Harris has a financial advantage. If no candidate gets a majority of more than 50 percent in the primary election, the top two candidates must run against each other during the general election.

If Harris is one of the candidates in the general election, he will have a significant advantage. His campaign reports having $398,793 left in surplus, while Hannemann has only $96,878.

In the only other major city election, Peter Carlisle, Honolulu prosecutor, is running without opposition. He has raised just $21,200 so far in this campaign period and reports spending $3,721 in the last 70 days of campaigning.

Legislative races are being run on a fraction of the money being raised and spent in the battle for city hall. For instance, in the Kailua Republican Senate primary, incumbent Sen. Whitney Anderson reports raising $30,000, while opponent Fred Hemmings has $15,402.

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City & County of Honolulu