Bainum leads in
spending for race
The mayoral hopeful outspent
Hannemann by 2-to-1 but has
less in his campaign fund
Spending in the race for mayor is nearing the $1 million mark.
Duke Bainum outspent opponent Mufi Hannemann by 2-to-1 in the first half of the year, according to campaign spending reports filed yesterday by the two mayoral candidates.
But Hannemann has twice as much money left over in his campaign war chest and no outstanding loans, the reports also show.
Bainum's disbursements totaled $661,418 during the reporting period from Jan. 1 through June 30.
Hannemann's expenditures came to $306,833 during the same period.
The bulk of the money spent by the two former city councilmen went to advertising and media services. Both candidates aired television advertisements during the first part of the year.
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"Obviously, (Bainum's) got a really well-financed campaign," said Elisa Yadao, spokeswoman for Hannemann's campaign. "We're grateful for the money that we've raised."
Bainum said 96 percent of donors to his campaign live in Hawaii, and the majority of contributors have given $500 or less, showing the grass-roots support for his campaign.
He said he is making the point because Hannemann has unfairly criticized him for receiving funds from wealthy mainland sources.
Bainum said he has received notes with small amounts like $10 from people who have given to campaigns for the first time.
"It's gratifying," Bainum said. "We believe we're in a strong position."
Yadao said Hannemann's campaign figures also show that a majority of contributors have each donated $250 or less.
The reports also show that Hannemann has $628,653 cash on hand, while Bainum's cash comes to about $379,152.
"We've got many miles to go yet before this campaign is concluded, whether it's September or November," Yadao said. "We're trying to be very wise and frugal in how we spend our money."
Bainum did not loan his campaign any money during this period, but he reports more than $1 million in outstanding loans, which leaves his campaign with a $688,975 deficit.
Hannemann reports no loans to his campaign.
Bainum has said he will need to raise $1.3 million to $1.5 million this election season. "We are on track and on time," Bainum said. "It's proceeding exactly as we planned."
To win the nonpartisan election outright on Sept. 18, the first-place finisher must receive 50 percent plus one vote. Otherwise, the two top finishers will go head to head in a runoff on Nov. 2.
Kawamoto has
most in war chest
Incumbent state Sen. Cal Kawamoto leads all legislative candidates in this year's elections in the race for campaign dollars, according to the latest state campaign spending reports.
The reports cover the first six months of the year.
Kawamoto reported he had $300,756 on hand at the beginning of the year. During the next six months, his campaign collected $55,663 and spent $93,443. That left Kawamoto with $262,976 heading into the Sept. 18 primary elections. No other legislative candidate in this year's elections has a campaign war chest approaching $100,000.
Kawamoto represents Senate District 18, which stretches from Pearl City to Waipahu.
His only opponent, fellow Democrat Clarence Nishihara, reported collecting $22,446 since January and spending $13,782, leaving him with $8,663. However, $5,000 of the money he collected was a loan, according to his report, leaving Nishihara with a $3,663 balance.
Nishihara said comparing his campaign dollars against Kawamoto's is a "mismatch." But he said, "It's not about money. It's about votes and how you explain your position."
In the race for the 7th Senate District seat representing Kauai and Niihau, incumbent Democrat Gary Hooser reported collecting more money than his challenger in the six-month period, spending more but ending with a smaller balance. Hooser started the year with $40 in his campaign coffer, collected $34,036 and spent $31,802, leaving him with $2,274 cash on hand, according to his report.
Hooser is trying to fend off a challenge from Republican Maryanne Kusaka, a former Kauai mayor. Kusaka started the year with $31,751 in her campaign war chest, collected $24,908 and spent $18,615, leaving her with $38,044.
In the 23rd Senate District representing much of Windward Oahu, incumbent Melodie Aduja reported she had $1,640 at the beginning of the year, collected $52,179 and spent $49,919, leaving her with $3,900 cash on hand. But because $2,715 she collected was from loans, her campaign account balance is $1,185.
Aduja's primary opponent, Clayton Hee, a former Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee and state senator, collected $24,550 and spent $17,661, leaving him with $6,889 cash on hand, according to his report. But because $3,000 of the money he collected was a loan, Hee's campaign account balance is $3,889.