Honolulu City Councilman Andy Mirikitani wants to stop two public service announcements featuring Mayor Jeremy Harris that began airing on local television stations the same week Harris announced his intention to run for governor next year. Mirikitani wants city
television ads featuring
Harris yankedBy Nelson Daranciang
Star-Bulletin"They are advertisements featuring the mayor," Mirikitani said. "The campaign period has clearly begun."
On Thursday, Mirikitani introduced a bill that would prohibit the mayor and Council members from appearing in any public advertising funded by the city if they have announced their intention to run for another political office.
"This will level the playing field and remove the unfair advantage in any election period," he said.
Carol Costa, Harris spokeswoman, said the spots were bought months in advance, "and nobody in this administration knew when the mayor was going to announce nor were even the consultant or the civil servant that works on the program."
The city has a permit with the state Department of Health that requires that it produce an educational program to communicate the dangers and concerns of nonpoint-source pollution in Oahu streams, Costa said.
The spots feature Harris and actors Richard Chamberlain and Jason Scott Lee. The city produced the spot featuring Lee after Chamberlain asked the city not to air his during the 1996 mayoral election.
Mirikitani said there were 11 events paid for by Honolulu taxpayers in the last mayoral election, including a luau hosted by Harris at Waianae District Park to kick off the County Express bus service.
"This is a loophole that needs to be closed," Mirikitani said.
City & County of Honolulu
