AG’s help sought The head of the Hawaii Tourism Authority is asking the state attorney general's office for assistance in a case of possible wrongdoing by a former HTA consultant.
in Harrington case
The state tourism agency
asks for an investigationBy Dave Reardon
dreardon@starbulletin.comTau Harrington, who handled the Pro Bowl and other sports marketing for the HTA, was publicly accused two weeks ago by state senators of conflict of interest and possibly fraud after he received money from the NFL. The payment was for services the lawmakers said should have been covered by Harrington's contract with the state.
"I think the best place to start here is the attorney general's office," HTA Executive Director Rex Johnson said at a follow-up senate briefing yesterday. "Have them do the kind of investigations they do and get a recommendation from there and then give it to the board."
State Senate Tourism chairwoman Donna Mercado Kim (D, Moanalua Valley-Aiea-Pearlridge-Kalihi Valley) and Sen. Sam Slom (R, Hawaii Kai-Aina Haina) again questioned $21,000 in billing by Harrington to the NFL for an airport meet-and-greet program in conjunction with the Pro Bowl.
"They thought they were paying it to the state," Johnson said. "They did not know they were being billed, we did not know they were being billed."
The lawmakers said Harrington should not have been billing the NFL for any services having to do with the Pro Bowl while he was being paid $45,000 per a six-month contract with the HTA to essentially manage the account for the state.
Harrington, who did not attend either briefing, denied any wrongdoing. He said the $21,000 was for services his private company, Harrington Sports Marketing, LLC, provided in a separate deal with the NFL that was not in conflict with his HTA duties.
"I have other commitments and did not receive formal notification (to attend yesterday)," Harrington told the Star-Bulletin. "The HTA asked for documentation in regard to this program that was executed on behalf of the NFL. I turned over documentation. I don't think there's anything incriminating there. It's all pretty straightforward."
Harrington provided the HTA with a copy of a letter dated April 7 to NFL Vice President Jim Steeg that included a line-item breakdown of the $21,000 billing.
"We have the line items, but not the actual bills," Steeg said in correspondence with Johnson.
When asked if he thought Harrington billed him as an agent of the state, his reply was, "That is what we may have naively thought."
Steeg added, however, "I believe it was an honest misunderstanding, just not clarified up front."
But Kim and Slom are very skeptical. They questioned several items, including $605.90 for mileage. At the state's standard rate of 33 cents per mile, the amount would account for more than 1,800 miles. They are also suspicious because, with tax, the total bill came out to $21,000.02 and not a less round dollar amount.
"The mileage charge blows my mind," Slom said. "I think it's really disturbing. I think there is harm done to the state's taxpayers."
Kim and Slom also said they are not satisfied by a report on the Pro Bowl that Harrington submitted, as per his contract.
"It's appalling," Kim said.
Johnson agreed.
"I felt it was a poor job of a final report," he said.
Johnson said he will withhold $15,000 still owed Harrington -- whose contract was not renewed after March 31 -- until the attorney general's office advises him otherwise.
The state and the NFL are expected to negotiate a deal to extend the Pro Bowl contract beyond 2005. Hawaii pays the NFL more than $5 million a year to host the game, which generates around $2.32 million in state tax revenue.
Hawaii Tourism Authority