Democrats’ donor The state Campaign Spending Commission plans to issue one of its largest fines ever to a local engineering firm that made more than $65,000 in illegal campaign contributions to several isle Democrats.
slapped with
$48,000 fine
Kamehameha Schools settles political investigation
By Rick Daysog
rdaysog@starbulletin.comThe commission said it plans to fine Controlpoint Surveying Inc. $48,000 for making over-the-limit contributions to Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris, former Gov. Ben Cayetano, ex-Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana and former Honolulu City Councilman Mufi Hannemann.
Controlpoint has agreed to pay the fine.
Bob Watada, the commission's executive director, said Controlpoint's fine is the commission's second largest, next only to Geolabs Inc. $64,000 fine last year. According to the commission, Geolabs gave more than $120,000 in illegal campaign contributions to isle Democrats.
Watada said that Controlpoint attempted to circumvent state campaign spending limits by making contributions in the names of several employees and their relatives.
Under state law an individual or corporation can give no more than $4,000 for a mayoral race and $6,000 for a gubernatorial race during a four-year election cycle.
The fine against Controlpoint requires the approval of the Campaign Spending Commission's five-member board, which meets on Thursday. During that meeting the commission will consider an additional $26,500 in fines against five local companies. They include:
>> Fewell Geotechnical Engineering Ltd., which will see a $10,000 fine for making $14,000 in excessive donations to Harris and $2,000 in over-the-limit contributions to Cayetano.>> CDS International, which also faces a $10,000 fine for making $3,000 in excessive contributions to the Harris campaign and $9,000 in illegal contributions to Cayetano.
>> T. Iida Contracting Inc. has agreed to a $1,000 fine for funneling $5,500 in over-the-limit donations to Harris.
>> Hubs Hawaii Inc., a retailer of drafting supplies, will receive a $500 fine for making $2,000 in over-the-limit donations to former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono.
>> ECM Inc. also will see a $5,000 fine for giving $2,000 too much to the Cayetano campaign.
