Yoshimura The state Campaign Spending Commission has accepted an agreement with City Council Chairman Jon Yoshimura, settling an investigation into questionable use of his campaign funds.
to pay fine over
campaign funds
The Council chairman says
he thought the expenses were
related to campaign activitiesBy Gordon Y.K. Pang
gpang@starbulletin.com
As a result of the settlement, reached with commission Executive Director Robert Watada, Yoshimura will pay the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund an administrative fine of $3,532.06, the amount of questionable expenditures as determined by the commission.
The commission voted 4-1 yesterday to accept the settlement. Commissioner Clifford Muraoka voted to reject the agreement.
The initial investigation centered on more than $16,000 of expenses. Watada said Yoshimura, who intends to run for lieutenant governor next year, was able to explain about $7,000 of the expenses as proper while between $3,000 and $9,000 are in a "gray area" where "we gave him the benefit of the doubt."
State laws say contributions to a campaign committee cannot be used for personal benefit.
Among the expenses cited were $767.44 spent for a 1996 trip to Los Angeles where he met with Smithsonian Institution officials to discuss bringing an exhibit to Hawaii.
He charged a stay at the Biltmore Hotel, the airfare and taxi rides to his campaign fund.
Other expenses included a $551 payment to take part in a fund-raising golf tournament, about $388 for at least two tuxedo rentals, $188 for travel and lodging associated with a campaign meeting on Maui, $94 for a campaign meeting on Kauai and $130 in parking tickets.
Yoshimura, who did not attend yesterday's meeting, declined to comment.
But in a letter sent to the commission, Yoshimura said he believed the expenses under question were related to campaigning.
"Under my broad interpretation, expenditures that increased public exposure and awareness of my activities were acceptable occasions for campaign spending," Yoshimura wrote.
"I now have a more accurate understanding of the law as Mr. Watada was able to explain to me his interpretation of the various spending guidelines."
Yoshimura also suggested that the commission publish "a handbook for candidates that explains our campaign spending laws in plain English."
Watada, after the meeting, said: "This should make it clear that you can't use campaign funds for personal expenses like going out to dinner with family or friends."
City & County of Honolulu