Former state and city politician Rudy Pacarro died last night after suffering a heart attack and a stroke a few weeks ago. RUDY PACARRO / STATE, CITY POLITICIAN
Took pride in his role
in airport’s reef runwayVibraphonist Arthur Lyman
Educator Queenie Mills
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By Treena Shapiro
tshapiro@starbulletin.comPacarro, 73, served in the state House from 1962 to 1970, then on the City Council from 1971 to 1985, when he lost his seat during a recall election after he switched to the Republican party.
In 1992, when Mayor Frank Fasi entered his sixth term as mayor, he selected Pacarro as a member of his cabinet. Pacarro served as deputy director of the Department of Human Services.
His niece Sweetie Pacarro said that her uncle's proudest accomplishment in his public life was helping to get the airport reef runway constructed.
"He didn't want planes flying over the housing area, so they built the reef runway because of it."
Pacarro was also instrumental in setting up youth basketball and boxing leagues in Kalihi, she said.
In 1994, Pacarro tried to win another seat on the City Council during a special election, but lost to incumbent Donna Kim.
After the election, Kim filed a complaint with the Campaign Spending Commission. The panel found probable cause that Pacarro had violated state law with a last-minute attack on her, using fliers mailed out by Citizens for Honest Government, an unregistered group with a phony address. Pacarro took responsibility for the flier and was fined $500 the following year.
Fasi said his life and Pacarro's were intertwined for more than 50 years, from the time they both got involved in city politics.
Their friendship continued through the years, and Fasi said they talked recently.
"He's one of my top, key campaigners for mayor and we've been meeting periodically," he said. "He was a pleasure to work with. He did his job. He did his homework, and he served his people well."
"I'm going to miss him very, very much as a member of the family," Fasi said.
Pacarro is survived by his wife Jean, six sons, 12 grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services are pending.