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Wednesday turned into
one big mayoral campaign
rally
You could've called Wednesday a two-for special in the race for Honolulu mayor. Both mayoral candidates, Duke Bainum and Mufi Hannemann, picked that night to hold major campaign events.
Bainum's campaign said 4,000 people attended a $25-per-ticket fund-raiser at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall to celebrate his 52nd birthday.
Campaign officials said this was the largest fund-raiser that Bainum has held. Food, drink and entertainment were part of the celebration.
Bainum also had members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Local 5 of the Hotel and Restaurant Workers unions there for support.
Across the island in Aiea -- the area Hannemann represented as a city councilman until 2000 -- Hannemann's campaign held a rally that featured several public employee labor leaders, including State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers President Tenari Maafala, Hawaii Fire Fighters Association President Bobby Lee and Hawaii Government Employees Association Executive Director Russell Okata.
All three unions, as well as other public and private unions, are endorsing Hannemann.
The union leaders told the crowd of more than 100 people, who also enjoyed desserts and coffee, why they believed Hannemann should be mayor.
"I think Mufi has a lot to offer our community," Okata said after the rally.
Hannemann's rally comes on the heels of endorsements by the Hawaii Hotel and Lodging Association and the Hawaii Restaurant Association.
Meanwhile, Bainum picked up the endorsement of the 5,500-member Hawaii Carpenters Union during the weekend.
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