Lingle ethics The Maui County Board of Ethics has dismissed the Democratic Party's complaint that Republican gubernatorial candidate Linda Lingle violated the county's ethics law four years ago.
complaint rejected
Another complaint
is pending before the state
Campaign Spending CommissionBy Bruce Dunford
Associated PressThe board voted Thursday to draft a document explaining its reasoning, but member Arsene "Blackie" Gadarian said yesterday that the board felt the complaint was a political dispute that did not merit action.
It involved a 1998 news release Lingle issued as Maui County's mayor, criticizing Democratic Gov. Ben Cayetano, who at the time was her opponent in the governor's race.
[ ELECTION 2002 ] Member Ed Bello said the board felt the complaint was politically motivated and that there was some question as to whether the board could act because Lingle is no longer a county employee.
"It was obvious that the Democratic Party was trying to use the Board of Ethics to further their political agenda," said Lingle campaign attorney Nelson Befitel.
"I think this sends a strong message that the board will not allow itself to be used and abused for political purposes."
A second complaint about the 1998 news release, this one to the state's Campaign Spending Commission, is to be taken up at the commission's Oct. 9 meeting.
Democrats say Lingle broke the law by failing to report the county's costs to prepare the news release as a campaign donation.
The Democrats' complaints came after the Republican Party complained to the state Ethics Commission about Cayetano's use of state personnel and resources to analyze Lingle's campaign platform.
When the complaints against Lingle were filed Aug. 13, Democratic Party Chairwoman Lorraine Akiba said the party was "seeking, if warranted, criminal prosecution" of Lingle.
Akiba said yesterday that it is her understanding the Maui ethics panel did not act solely because four years had passed since the incident.
"I think we're satisfied because I think justice was done," Akiba said, noting that on Aug. 15, Lingle said she should not have issued the news release, acknowledging that it was "too political" to come out of a government office.
"My concern is getting information before the voters so they know who she is and what she's done in the past," Akiba said.
"She's the one that is making integrity an issue."
Akiba insists the complaint pending before the Campaign Spending Commission "is much more serious."
