CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
After hearing guilty verdicts yesterday afternoon,
Councilman Andy Mirikitani, second from left, walked
out of federal court with lawyer John Edmunds.
Mirikitani's girlfriend and co-defendant Sharron Bynum,
far left, also was found guilty.

Peers support Mirikitani’s
work in office

See Also:
Colleagues urge Mirikitani to resign now;
Mirikitani Guilty

---

By B.J. Reyes
breyes@starbulletin.com

As City Councilman Andy Mirikitani awaits sentencing on federal corruption charges, some of his peers say the conviction should not diminish the work he accomplished in his three terms as a member of the Council.

"Mr. Mirikitani gave a great deal of his life to serve the people," Councilman Duke Bainum said shortly after yesterday's verdict. "He'll be stripped of his office, he'll be stripped of his earning power as an attorney. You have to feel for him."

After three days of deliberations, a jury found Mirikitani guilty on six counts related to a kickback scheme involving two city employees. "It's certainly not a happy day for the City Council or the city," Bainum said.

Fellow Councilman John Henry Felix defended Mirikitani as a "diligent and tireless worker," but added that no one is above the law.

"The law is the law. We're a nation of laws and we have to abide by them," Felix said.

"It's a regrettable state of affairs," he added. "But to Andy's credit, he served his constituents diligently and has been responsible for some significant legislative initiatives that have provided for the betterment of our community."

Councilman Romy Cachola declined to comment specifically on the case, citing Mirikitani's right to appeal, but added that the legislative body will be able to get past the controversy.

"The City Council, being an institution, is bigger than any one of us, whether individually or collectively," Cachola said.

"I don't feel bad for him but I feel bad for his constituents," said Councilman John DeSoto, who has had run-ins with Mirikitani.

"There's no secret. There's something wrong with this guy, and I've been saying that forever."

Other Council members did not return telephone messages seeking comment last night.

Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris also would not comment on the case, spokeswoman Carol Costa said.

"It's been a long process and I'm glad that it's over," said John Breinich, chairman of the Ala Moana-Kakaako Neighborhood Board within Mirikitani's district.

Bainum said that although he feels it is in the Council's best interest for Mirikitani to resign, he does not hold anything against him.

"I certainly bear him no ill will," Bainum said. "My heart goes out to him and Sharron (Bynum, Mirikitani's co-defendant) and their families.

"It's a sad day."