STAR-BULLETIN / 2001
Mufi Hannemann and Duke Bainum were potential mayoral opponents in November 2001, when they appeared at a candidates' forum in Makiki with Keith Kaneshiro, middle. But the race never happened: Mayor Jeremy Harris decided to stay on the job rather than make a run for governor.
The mayor’s race:
They’re off and runningDuke Bainum and Mufi Hannemann
criticize each other over campaign gifts
The race for Honolulu mayor picked up speed yesterday as former City Councilmen Duke Bainum and Mufi Hannemann both called news conferences to show off what's new in their campaigns and take swipes at each other.
Although he did not name his chief rival, Hannemann took a shot at the better-funded Bainum campaign. "I believe that there could be a comfort level setting in that someone may hide between their television commercials and their radio advertisements and that's not the American way," Hannemann said in a morning news conference.
Later in the day, it was Bainum's turn: "In the coming months, we'll have a lot of opportunities to clarify (our) distinctions. And I really don't want to talk about his record. I want to talk about my record and, I repeat, I have never had illegal campaign donations." Bainum was referring to illegal campaign contributions made to several campaigns, including Hannemann's.
Hannemann called reporters to the entrance to Sand Island State Recreation Area, which has been closed since nearly 2 million gallons of raw sewage spilled from a ruptured pipe beneath the park.
"Basic city services is what we need to emphasize. Now more than ever we need to allocate more time and funding," Hannemann said. "Now more than ever, people want their potholes to be fixed, people want their sewer lines to be repaired and that's what we bring to the table."
The former Council chairman also announced that the United Public Workers, the state's largest blue-collar public employee union -- whose 12,000 members include sewer plant workers -- was endorsing him.
"Mufi as a Council member has always advocated for taking care of the basics of the city and county, maintaining and improving the core services that the city provides to our communities," said UPW State Director Dayton Nakanelua.
The union also backed Hannemann in his unsuccessful 2000 challenge of Mayor Jeremy Harris.
Hannemann also challenged other mayoral candidates to four town meetings and debates in Leeward, Central, Windward and urban Oahu.
Without naming Bainum, Hannemann said, "Let's not stand behind our television commercials or our radio advertisements ... Stand side by side, offer our platforms, offer the reasons why we're running for mayor and let the people question us. Let them see us face to face, side by side."
In the afternoon, Bainum gathered reporters at his Kapiolani Boulevard campaign headquarters to introduce his "Prescription for Honest Change," and a new TV commercial -- his third spot so far this year -- that highlights a four-point plan.
Bainum's plan calls for eliminating the influence of campaign contributions on city decisions, requiring high ethical standards of appointees, improving and strengthening the city Ethics Commission and improving standards of conduct for city employees.
"Twice this weekend people have stopped me and said, 'Duke I don't think you're going to need a broom, I think you're going to need a vacuum cleaner," Bainum said, referring to earlier TV spots in which he holds a broom to symbolize cleaning up corruption.
Both Hannemann and Bainum have criticized each other's campaign contributions.
Hannemann has said that Bainum's donations have come primarily from himself and his family members and Bainum has been quick to point out -- as he did yesterday -- that his campaign has not taken illegal campaign donations.
The television spot unveiled by Bainum began running last night during "American Idol."
In responding to Hannemann's call for debates, Bainum said, "We certainly appeared on a panel with Mr. Hannemann last week at the hotel association. I'm sure as the campaign progresses ... we'll have many opportunities not only for debates but for forums and for neighborhood board discussions. We welcome that."
