Harris contests Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris is asking that the five-member state Campaign Spending Commission dismiss a complaint alleging illegal spending by his campaign.
campaign complaint
The mayor asks a state panel to
dismiss its new accusations
of illegal use of fundsBy Rick Daysog
rdaysog@starbulletin.comIn a 12-page response to the commission, attorney Chris Parsons said the commission did not provide any details as to what laws are being violated. Parsons also renewed charges that commission Executive Director Robert Watada is prejudiced against him.
"I've seen the complaint and I'm not concerned, because I know there's no basis for any of the accusations," Harris said in a written news release.
"The legal process will prove that out. In the meantime we continue to run a great campaign with strong and growing support."
In an administrative complaint dated Feb. 1, Watada alleged that the Harris campaign made roughly $20,000 in improper expenditures and failed to report more than $100,000 it raised on behalf of the Democratic National Committee.
The alleged improper expenditures included more than $1,000 for a January 1996 trip to the Philippines, $10,803 for mainland air fares and hotel accommodations, and $262.66 for parking fines for a staffer.
The commission will take up the matter during a meeting Wednesday. If it upholds the charges, the Harris campaign can be fined up to three times the amount of allegedly improper expenditures and contributions.
Watada declined comment.
Parsons said the expenditures are legal and stem from campaign work.
The mainland trips, which involved Harris and several key campaign staffers, were for meetings with Democratic National Committee officials. Parsons said the meetings went toward building relationships for future political campaigns.
Parsons added the state Campaign Spending Commission has no jurisdiction on regulating money the Harris campaign may have raised for the DNC. That is a federal matter that should be regulated by the Federal Election Commission, he said.
He added that the parking fines were incurred by volunteers who were working on campaign activities at the time.
Parsons said that Harris went to the Philippines in 1996 to take part in a trade mission with local business officials. During the trip, Harris met with the Philippine president and other political and economic leaders, Parsons said.
A Harris spokeswoman said the mayor was invited by the local Filipino Chamber of Commerce to take part in the trip. She said that Harris decided to save the city money by using surplus campaign funds, which is allowed by law.
The complaint comes after the commission voted last month to refer a separate, two-count complaint against the Harris campaign to city Prosecutor Peter Carlisle for a criminal investigation. That complaint alleged that the Harris campaign improperly recorded campaign contributions under false names.