Bainum avoiding
mayoral debates,
Hannemann saysBoth candidates have agreed
to a TV debate within two weeks
of the September primary
Mayoral candidate Mufi Hannemann is accusing his opponent Duke Bainum of ducking out of more than a dozen debates and forums.
"Let's not hide behind our television spots and radio commercials," Hannemann said.
Bainum responded that he has been and will appear with Hannemann and that his opponent is calling for more joint appearances because Hannemann is trying to catch up.
"When you're behind and losing, you ask for debates," Bainum recently told the Star-Bulletin editorial board.
Hannemann challenged Bainum to four regional debates earlier this year.
Now, Hannemann said recently, he has counted about 15 requests for either debates or question-and-answer forums that he has accepted but that Bainum has not accepted or has not yet responded to.
"There's a real need for the voters to see us side by side sitting at the table, talking about this (campaign)," Hannemann said. "I have not turned down any invitation for a joint appearance."
Bainum said that scheduling conflicts have prevented him from accepting some engagements, including a debate that was scheduled for last Saturday by the League of Women Voters.
The League's Pearl Johnson wrote in an e-mail reply that one of the candidates had an important personal commitment on another island that weekend.
Bainum said that he has shared the stage with Hannemann to answer questions at the Hawaii Music Awards ceremony and before the Hawaii Hotel Association.
He added that there will be plenty of opportunities for the two to answer questions together prior to the fall.
"I went to the Hawaii Developers Council, and he was a no-show," Bainum said.
Not true, according to Han-nemann, who noted the two were scheduled for separate appearances before the council and that his turn is May 5.
Hannemann also said that the Hawaii Music Awards event was not a debate or Q-and-A and that the joint appearance before the hotel group was required for them to be considered for an endorsement.
Bainum disagreed and noted that debates are not the only way for voters to know his views. "I have given hundreds of coffee hour speeches and speeches every day so people know my views, and I'm communicating them door to door."
Both Hannemann and Bainum said they have agreed to a debate sponsored by KHON-TV within two weeks of the Sept. 18 primary election, but a final date has not been settled upon.
The back-and-forth over debates comes as both campaigns head into high gear.
Hannemann held a $25-a-person fund-raiser Monday at the Ala Moana Hotel. He said more than 3,000 people attended and that the event raised close to $100,000.
The fund-raiser came several days after Hannemann began running two television advertisements, his first that talk directly about his run for mayor.
Bainum said his series of TV spots have led to more people pledging financial support to his campaign.
"We're ahead of last six months' donations, where we raised more money than any other mayoral candidate."