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Harris’ campaign
complaints against
Hannemann dismissed

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By Richard Borreca
Star-Bulletin

The state Campaign Spending Commission has dismissed a series of complaints filed by Mayor Jeremy Harris against his unsuccessful challenger, Mufi Hannemann.

Harris complained that Hannemann, who ran against Harris in the September election, had not complied with state laws when he sent endorsement letters.

The letters were from Republican state Reps. Bob McDermott and David Pendleton.

State campaign laws generally do not allow a candidate to help another with money or contributions. Also state law requires that ads clearly say who is paying for them.

Harris charged that Hannemann was actually paying for the letters to be distributed, while one letter said it was paid for by McDermott.

The mayor also alleged that Hannemann wasn't paying Pendleton for a list of people to receive the letter.

At the hearing, attorneys for Hannemann and the Republican Party said the McDermott letter was mistakenly labeled and the Hannemann campaign paid Pendleton for the voter list.

Hannemann also paid a $25 penalty for the mislabeled letter. The commission then dismissed all the charges against the former city councilman.

An attorney for Harris, Rick Tsujimura, complained that the law wasn't clear and that by dismissing the cases, the commission did not help to clarify the issue.

Bob Watada, Campaign Spending Commission executive director, said there were several instances during this campaign season when candidates used improperly attributed letters of endorsement from other politicians and the commission would send out notices to the offending parties.