Mayor Mufi Hannemann launched his first direct attack on his mayoral opponent City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi this weekend in a radio advertisement that criticizes her for taking credit for a 2006 deal that saved Waimea Valley from development.

The 60-second spot refers to a long, drawn-out process that began in 2005, when the City Council unanimously rejected a deal that would have allowed some luxury housing development in Waimea Valley, a pristine open space. That rejection led to a settlement reached in January 2006 after intense negotiations between Hannemann and the landowner that saved the valley from development.

“;I would like to say without the dedication, innovation and personal involvement of Mayor Mufi Hannemann, the Waimea Valley purchase would not have moved forward,”; Bill McCorriston, the attorney who represented Waimea Valley's landowner, said in the advertisement. “;Clyde Matsui, the court-appointed mediator at the time of the settlement, correctly said that Mufi Hannemann deserves the major credit for this transaction.”;

The advertisement went on to directly name Hannemann's opponent, Kobayashi, who was the chairwoman of the City Council Budget Committee at the time.

“;Ann Kobayashi was not involved in any way and wasn't even present for the final vote on the public-private partnership that eventually came to own the valley,”; McCorriston said. “;I personally find it absurd that she would try to take credit for saving Waimea.”;

Both candidates have accused each other of distorting the facts and will likely take more jabs at each other as the Nov. 4 general election approaches.

Up until this point, Hannemann has refrained from naming Kobayashi or directly criticizing her in any of his advertisements. But after failing to win re-election in the Sept. 20 primary election, Hannemann said he would more aggressively confront Kobayashi on her statements.

But Kobayashi said she doesn't understand the reason Hannemann is focusing on this particular issue.

“;I'm not taking credit for it,”; Kobayashi said yesterday. “;I'm saying we, as in the City Council, stopped it from being developed. It was the mayor's first proposal that said we should develop it. I voted against that.”;

According to news reports, on the day of the vote on March 15, 2006, Kobayashi was not present for the vote. Kobayashi said she was outside talking to community members and that she had already voiced approval for the deal in a previous City Council committee meeting.

“;It's not because I wasn't there to vote that it would have failed,”; Kobayashi said. “;I was standing right outside the door.”;