Campaign panel seeks
records from Sen. Aduja

The state Campaign Spending Commission has filed a formal complaint against state Sen. Melodie Aduja, alleging that the lawmaker has not turned over records for its investigation into more than $30,000 in campaign payments to her ex-husband.

FILE Melodie Aduja: Her ex-husband withdrew more than $30,000 in cash from her campaign

Bob Watada, the commission's executive director, said the commission's five-member board could vote to hold a contested-case hearing on the matter.

The board, which will meet Wednesday, also could refer the case to city Prosecutor Peter Carlisle for a criminal investigation, Watada said.

Aduja's ex-husband, Lee Williams, was arrested in April in a Chinatown drug raid. He also was deputy chairman of Aduja's campaign committee.

"She hasn't come forward with the information that we need at this time," said Watada.

Aduja (D, Kaneohe) could not be reached for comment. Aduja, who is up for re-election this year, previously stated that her ex-husband's drug problems have torn apart her family.

The commission is investigating more than $30,000 in cash withdrawals by Williams.

According the complaint, Aduja has not provided the commission with receipts for nearly $2,400 in payments to Williams during the three months ending May 16, 2003.

The commission also questioned a payment on a $3,000 loan to a Jennifer Loma and nearly 20 checks totaling $9,500 made out to campaign Treasurer Elizabeth Gates.

The loan payment to Loma was not documented in Aduja's disclosure reports as required by law. The payments to Gates are considered unauthorized expenditures under state law, since Gates is one of the people authoarized to sign checks for Aduja's campaign committee.