An employee of Linda Lingle's gubernatorial campaign said yesterday that he is withdrawing from an Oahu House race to keep a dispute over his candidacy from hurting the Republican Party and Lingle's campaign. Lingle aide quits
House raceJames Hardway is accused of
possible fraud in filing to runBy Bruce Dunford
Associated PressJames Hardway, deputy finance director for the Lingle campaign, acted minutes after learning the Attorney General's Office had filed a motion in Circuit Court to disqualify him as a candidate based on a complaint from a supporter of incumbent Rep. Ken Hiraki (D, Kakaako-Downtown Honolulu).
The challenge is based on allegedly incorrect addresses Hardway listed on his nomination papers and on his voter registration application.
[ ELECTION 2002 ] Hardway, 28, an Air Force veteran, insists he has done nothing wrong and is confident any investigation will prove that.
After his brief statement at GOP headquarters, Hardway left without answering any questions from reporters.
Hawaii Republican Party Chairman Micah Kane said the party will defend Hardway against what he claims is a desperate attempt by the Democratic Party to stay in power and prevent a two-party system at all costs.
Andy Winer, director of the Hawaii Democratic Coordinated Campaign, called for an investigation of possible felony voter fraud against Hardway and Lingle, whom he said must have known Hardway's address was invalid when she signed his nomination papers.
The complaint filed last week by Lynne Matusow, chairwoman of the Downtown Neighborhood Board and a supporter of Hiraki, said Hardway listed his address on nomination papers filed just before the July 23 filing deadline as Victoria Street. But, she said, Hardway listed his address as Nuuanu Avenue in signing as one of the 15 registered voters' signatures on his nomination papers.
"I don't want somebody representing me that's basically lying and is dishonest," she said.
State chief elections officer Dwayne Yoshina referred the complaint to the court based on findings of the Office of the City Clerk that it did not consider Hardway to have been a resident at 1255 Nuuanu Ave. on July 23, 2002, as he listed on his nomination papers filed on that date.
Yoshina noted that Hardway also had not responded to the allegation that he actually lived at 1550-C Davenport Place, which is in the 25th District, at the time, making him ineligible to sign his nomination papers.
In sending Yoshina the results of her office's investigation into Hardway's residence, City Clerk Genevieve Wong said her office "is interested in information that is discovered in the course of the candidate disqualification process and may wish to seek charges of possible Chapter 19, election law violations."
Hardway said last week that as a candidate he listed the address of an apartment he plans to move into before the election.
He said he listed Nuuanu Avenue as his most recent address in signing as a registered voter in the district because he had been staying temporarily with various friends until he could move into a Victoria Street apartment being vacated by his boss, Lingle campaign finance director Rae McCorkle, and her husband.
Should the Circuit Court disqualify Hardway's candidacy, it could leave Hiraki unopposed for re-election.
State Office of Elections
