More firms face fines
over political donations

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By Rick Daysog
rdaysog@starbulletin.com

The state Campaign Spending Commission plans to fine four local companies $5,500 for giving excessive political contributions to the campaigns of Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris and former City Councilman Mufi Hannemann.

GKO & Associates, Mechanical Engineers of Hawaii and Okahara & Associates each agreed to pay $1,000 fines to the commission for giving over-the-limit political donations to Harris' 2000 re-election campaign.

RMY Construction Inc. also agreed to pay a $2,500 fine after its officers and employees gave $2,000 in excessive contributions to Hannemann in his unsuccessful attempt to unseat Harris two years ago.

The fines require the approval of the commission's five-member board, which meets on Wednesday.

Under state law a donor can give no more than $4,000 to a mayoral candidate and $6,000 to a gubernatorial candidate during a four-year election cycle.

Since January the commission has issued more than $100,000 in fines to nearly three dozen companies for giving excessive contributions to Harris and other local political candidates, said Bob Watada, the commission's executive director.

The Harris campaign has denied wrongdoing. Hannemann said he was not aware of RMY's contributions.