PRP attacks on Cayetano ‘bogus’ and ‘unfortunate’

Their impeccable, wood-paneled downtown offices make you feel this is a solid institution with vision.

The conference room has a dramatic view along Hotel Street to the state Capitol, but the folks running the Pacific Resource Partnership (PRP) are lacking the perspective to go along with the view.

PRP is a partnership between the Hawaii carpenters union and the state’s big contractors designed to boost the building industry.

Obviously PRP is in love with the city’s $5.3 billion heavy rail project and is devoting whatever it takes, according to executive director John White, to stop former Gov. Ben Cayetano from becoming Honolulu mayor.

Cayetano is against the city’s program and in favor of a bus rapid transit system. Instead of launching a program to defend or promote rail, PRP went on the attack.

While there is much to be discussed about both the city’s and Cayetano’s transit plans, PRP is plunging ahead with a new television commercial and a website claiming, "Cayetano ignored the public interest for his own public gain."

Back in May, PRP attacked Cayetano, claiming that he didn’t return "illegal campaign contributions."

The argument is that Cayetano’s last campaign for governor back in 1998 had about $500,000 in donations from people and corporations that improperly donated. The contributors either gave more than the limit, or they gave through fake names or companies.

The contributors were caught and punished by the state Campaign Spending Commission and its hard-charging executive director, Bob Watada.

PRP’s May argument was largely ignored, so White returned this week with another charge.

White insisted that Cayetano "used a loophole to avoid paying back a half million in illegal campaign contributions."

According to White, who besides interpreting state campaign law is apparently also versed in the theology of the spending rules, Cayetano "is not obligated to pay back any of that money legally, but morally we believe he should."

For his part, Cayetano says he did what the law required him to do. The Cayetano campaign had a surplus of $8,655, which was turned over to the spending commission. The Cayetano campaign was then closed.

Reached on the mainland, Watada was asked if Cayetano did anything wrong. Watada said "No."

"We closed out the Cayetano account and there were no liabilities related to his campaign. We would not have closed out the account if he owed money to someone or he owed money to us," Watada said in a telephone interview.

"It is bogus to come back now and say he didn’t pay back money or something," Watada said.

Cayetano now has a new campaign committee because he is running for mayor.

State Rep. Della Au Belatti was a campaign spending commissioner during Watada’s investigations, and was a driving force to clean up the campaign donation scandals. She said Cayetano did nothing wrong, adding that PRP is hiding its own finances.

"My feeling is if PRP wants to engage in this, it is highly suspect, it is unfortunate. They are picking and choosing what candidates to focus on; they are failing to tell the real story; they are failing to say Gov. Cayetano was never ever criminally impacted," Belatti said.

Belatti noted that besides contributions going to Cayetano, donors also improperly gave to then-Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono and former Mayor Jeremy Harris.

Here is part of the 2006 settlement reached with Russell Figueiroa, R.M. Towill Corp. president:

"The proposed draft agreement is offered to settle claims of false name and excess contributions made to the campaigns of Arnold Morgado, Ben Cayetano, Jeremy Harris and Mazie Hirono. Staff recommends and Respondent has agreed to a fine of $50,800."

What White doesn’t say in his PRP commercials is that Hirono’s campaign took in about $98,000 in contributions that White called "illegal" with Cayetano.

White also didn’t mention that he is Hirono’s former chief of staff.

"What they are doing is very disingenuous, very hypocritical," said Belatti.

White is refusing to say who is a member of PRP, making the effort appear like the conveniently anonymous political action committees allowed under the U.S. Supreme Court’s "Citizens United" case.

When voters go to the polls in August, it may be that mysterious unsubstantiated attacks, instead of being visionary campaign tactics, actually bring in Cayetano and send rail packing.

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Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at rborreca@staradvertiser.com.