More fines are likely
for political donationsA consulting firm and an isle
attorney face $48,000 in penalties
After assessing a record $303,000 penalty against a local engineering firm yesterday, the state Campaign Spending Commission is expected to issue an additional $48,000 in fines against a local consulting firm and an isle attorney.
The five-member board will meet Thursday to consider a $44,500 fine against Gary Okamoto, who heads the consulting firm of Wilson Okamoto & Associates Inc., and a $3,500 fine against local attorney Edward Chun, who recently pleaded guilty to making campaign contributions under a false name. Okamoto and Chun have already agreed to pay the fines.
The commission also will vote to accept the $303,000 fine against Michael Matsumoto, the SSFM International Inc. chief executive officer who recently pleaded no-contest to a criminal charge that he laundered political donations through dozens of SSFM employees, relatives and friends. Matsumoto has agreed to pay the fine.
In a five-page conciliation agreement, the commission alleged that Gary Okamoto and his wife, Lori Okamoto, funneled $29,500 to Mayor Jeremy Harris' campaign and $22,800 to former Gov. Ben Cayetano's campaign. The couple also orchestrated $14,500 in false-name contributions to ex-Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono and $10,000 to former Honolulu Councilman Arnold Morgado, according to the agreement.
Chun, meanwhile, admitted that he advised several employees of Food Pantry Inc. to give $9,000 to the Harris campaign in 1996 and 2000. Food Pantry later improperly reimbursed the workers at Chun's advice.
Under state law, donors are barred from making political donations under false names. They also are prohibited from giving more than $4,000 to a mayoral candidate and $6,000 to a gubernatorial candidate during a four-year election period.
Including the new penalties, the commission has issued more than $950,000 in fines in its two-year investigation into state and city contractors.
