Commission’s effect
felt in Senate

Some attribute former Sen. Cal
Kawamoto's loss to his troubles
in campaign spending

At the end of the 2004 legislative session, state Sen. Cal Kawamoto -- fearing he would not be returning -- rose to say goodbye to fellow lawmakers, but his Democratic colleagues insisted he would come back.

They were wrong.

On Sept. 18, Kawamoto (D, Waipahu), after serving 10 years in the state Senate, lost his first race.

The signs of Kawamoto's political troubles were clear two years ago, when he ran unopposed and 38 percent of the voters in his district did not vote for him. An unopposed incumbent usually gets about 20 percent blank ballots.

Although Kawamoto held a $250,000 campaign checking account, his campaign was bound up in controversial issues such as supporting the traffic van cams and banning fireworks.

Campaign reformers said Kawamoto was largely responsible for watering down a tough campaign spending bill in the 2002 legislative session.

But in 2002, Kawamoto still was able to garner more than 4,000 votes. This year, with a lower voter turnout, he only picked up 2,800 votes in his loss to Clarence Nishihara, a political novice.

Last year, Kawamoto's troubles with the Campaign Spending Commission intensified on both the legal and political fronts. The state House Democrats refused to meet in conference committee with the Senate on a campaign spending bill because Kawamoto was on the committee.

House Democrats said Kawamoto was opposed to any campaign spending reforms and would kill the bill. Kawamoto balked at prohibiting unions and government contractors from giving to political campaigns.

Meanwhile, the Campaign Spending Commission had launched an investigation into a series of unreported campaign expenses, including using his car and paying for traffic tickets.

After his defeat, Kawamoto blamed publicity about his troubles for his defeat.

"The loss was a surprise. I tried to adjust to the negative campaigning of my opponent, but it was the constant badgering by the newspapers," Kawamoto said.

"The spending commission did its job. It had no effect, (but) it was the articles that came after," Kawamoto said. "I was the guy they decided to pick on."

For government reform groups, such as Hawaii Clean Elections and Hawaii Elections Project, Kawamoto had become a target. He opposed their calls for a publicly funded political campaign and had introduced legislation to strip the campaign commission of its power.

"Cal Kawamoto shot himself in the foot. He put out all those crazy bills to kill the spending commission. He was making the Legislature look bad," said Grace Furukawa, president of Hawaii Clean Elections.

Robert Watada, Campaign Spending Commission executive director, would not attribute Kawamoto's loss to the spending commission investigation.

"It was because of voters voting. It was democracy at work," Watada said.

But Watada added that there is a public perception that if you are fined as Kawamoto was, "you did something inappropriate, and it was a violation of the law."

Senate President Robert Bunda agreed that politicians can quickly get into trouble if they are fined by the commission.

"It raises doubts in the minds of voters," Bunda said, adding that the investigation was "the No. 1 reason for Kawamoto's defeat."

Bunda, who also had to pay a $200 Campaign Spending Commission fine for giving a scholarship with campaign funds, said the best advice for politicians is to make sure they hire an accountant for their campaigns.

The issue of honesty in campaigning "resonates," says Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, Judiciary Committee chairwoman, who had several campaign spending bills blocked by Kawamoto.

"If you run afoul of the Campaign Spending Commission, it is a sensational piece of news, but most elected officials will never see a campaign spending investigation," Hanabusa said.

"It is enough of an issue to decide an election, but it is also a matter of how you handle it," Hanabusa said.

Citizen reformers such as Laure Dillon, executive director of Hawaii Election Project, said Kawamoto's defeat is a sign of change in campaigns in Hawaii.

"The public really wants change. The public spoke and I say bravo," Dillon said.

She added that the spending commission should do more investigations and give harsher penalties for spending infractions.

"There is no problem with someone who is honestly handling the money," Dillon said.

Commission’s effect
felt in Senate

Some attribute former Sen. Cal
Kawamoto's loss to his troubles
in campaign spending

At the end of the 2004 legislative session, state Sen. Cal Kawamoto -- fearing he would not be returning -- rose to say goodbye to fellow lawmakers, but his Democratic colleagues insisted he would come back.

They were wrong.

On Sept. 18, Kawamoto (D, Waipahu), after serving 10 years in the state Senate, lost his first race.

The signs of Kawamoto's political troubles were clear two years ago, when he ran unopposed and 38 percent of the voters in his district did not vote for him. An unopposed incumbent usually gets about 20 percent blank ballots.

Although Kawamoto held a $250,000 campaign checking account, his campaign was bound up in controversial issues such as supporting the traffic van cams and banning fireworks.

Campaign reformers said Kawamoto was largely responsible for watering down a tough campaign spending bill in the 2002 legislative session.

But in 2002, Kawamoto still was able to garner more than 4,000 votes. This year, with a lower voter turnout, he only picked up 2,800 votes in his loss to Clarence Nishihara, a political novice.

Last year, Kawamoto's troubles with the Campaign Spending Commission intensified on both the legal and political fronts. The state House Democrats refused to meet in conference committee with the Senate on a campaign spending bill because Kawamoto was on the committee.

House Democrats said Kawamoto was opposed to any campaign spending reforms and would kill the bill. Kawamoto balked at prohibiting unions and government contractors from giving to political campaigns.

Meanwhile, the Campaign Spending Commission had launched an investigation into a series of unreported campaign expenses, including using his car and paying for traffic tickets.

After his defeat, Kawamoto blamed publicity about his troubles for his defeat.

"The loss was a surprise. I tried to adjust to the negative campaigning of my opponent, but it was the constant badgering by the newspapers," Kawamoto said.

"The spending commission did its job. It had no effect, (but) it was the articles that came after," Kawamoto said. "I was the guy they decided to pick on."

For government reform groups, such as Hawaii Clean Elections and Hawaii Elections Project, Kawamoto had become a target. He opposed their calls for a publicly funded political campaign and had introduced legislation to strip the campaign commission of its power.

"Cal Kawamoto shot himself in the foot. He put out all those crazy bills to kill the spending commission. He was making the Legislature look bad," said Grace Furukawa, president of Hawaii Clean Elections.

Robert Watada, Campaign Spending Commission executive director, would not attribute Kawamoto's loss to the spending commission investigation.

"It was because of voters voting. It was democracy at work," Watada said.

But Watada added that there is a public perception that if you are fined as Kawamoto was, "you did something inappropriate, and it was a violation of the law."

Senate President Robert Bunda agreed that politicians can quickly get into trouble if they are fined by the commission.

"It raises doubts in the minds of voters," Bunda said, adding that the investigation was "the No. 1 reason for Kawamoto's defeat."

Bunda, who also had to pay a $200 Campaign Spending Commission fine for giving a scholarship with campaign funds, said the best advice for politicians is to make sure they hire an accountant for their campaigns.

The issue of honesty in campaigning "resonates," says Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, Judiciary Committee chairwoman, who had several campaign spending bills blocked by Kawamoto.

"If you run afoul of the Campaign Spending Commission, it is a sensational piece of news, but most elected officials will never see a campaign spending investigation," Hanabusa said.

"It is enough of an issue to decide an election, but it is also a matter of how you handle it," Hanabusa said.

Citizen reformers such as Laure Dillon, executive director of Hawaii Election Project, said Kawamoto's defeat is a sign of change in campaigns in Hawaii.

"The public really wants change. The public spoke and I say bravo," Dillon said.

She added that the spending commission should do more investigations and give harsher penalties for spending infractions.

"There is no problem with someone who is honestly handling the money," Dillon said.