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Mansho will
accept fund misuse
settlement

The city councilwoman will
make cash payment, head
off further action

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By Gordon Pang
Star-Bulletin

Honolulu City Councilwoman Rene Mansho is accepting a proposal to settle claims against her made by the state Campaign Spending Commission, her attorney says.

Under the terms of the proposed settlement, Mansho is to make a cash payment to the commission, and the commission will not forward its claims to the state attorney general's office for possible criminal prosecution. The agreement is subject to the commission's approval at its March 13 meeting.

Bob Watada, commission chairman, had given Mansho until today to accept the offer.

Charles Price, Mansho's attorney, confirmed acceptance of the agreement in a prepared statement released this morning. But he said, "it would be inappropriate to publicly comment on the agreement's terms while the commission's review and approval is pending."

Mansho, who has been at a National Association of Counties legislative conference in Washington, D.C., since last week, was flying back to Honolulu and could not be reached for comment this morning.

The settlement is believed to be in the tens of thousands of dollars.

A preliminary report to the commission by Watada's staff centered on about $32,000 in questionable expenses for travel and lodging, cellular telephone and pager charges. State law says campaign funds can be used only for campaign-related activities.

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City & County of Honolulu