Pro-rail hui starts a PAC taking shot at Cayetano

A pro-rail group critical of former Gov. Ben Cayetano and his mayoral campaign based on killing the rail project is launching a new political action committee calling attention to the former governor’s failure to pay back illegal campaign contributions made to his former gubernatorial campaign.

The new PAC, known as Read Ben’s Record, is being unveiled today by Pacific Resource Partnership, an advocacy group for the state’s unionized carpenters and construction workers. Pacific Resource Partnership has provided initial funding of $100,000, officials said.

In addition to a website, readbensrecord.com, the group also plans to run radio and television ads starting Wednesday.

Cayetano, who accuses PRP of waging a smear campaign against him, calls the PAC a "dirty tactic."

"PRP can’t beat me on the facts about rail so it has resorted to every dirty tactic they can dream up — push polls, you name it they’ve done it," Cayetano said in an email message. "PRP is being run by amateurs who don’t understand that the voters are smarter than they think. I have faith in the people’s good judgment to see through all the lies and falsehoods."

John White, PRP executive director, said voters "deserve the right to know the full record" of a candidate.

"We simply cannot return to the past pay-to-play culture that thrived under Cayetano, especially with his recent advocacy for (bus rapid transit)," he added.

Read Ben’s Record is a noncandidate independent expenditure committee formed to provide information supporting the $5.27 billion rail project. Cayetano is the only anti-rail candidate in the race against Mayor Peter Carlisle and former city Managing Director Kirk Caldwell.

The website focuses solely on the campaign contributions tied to Cayetano, but officials say it will be expanded to include other issues as the campaign progresses.

The money was illegally donated to Cayetano’s gubernatorial campaigns under false names. In those situations, the Campaign Spending Commission goes after the donor and orders the campaign to forfeit the money to the state.

Officials said Cayetano repaid about $8,000 but closed his gubernatorial campaign still owing about $530,000. Once the campaign is closed, the commission can no longer go after the money because it is not considered a debt or a fine.

Cayetano has done nothing illegal, but White has said he feels Cayetano should be morally obligated to repay the money owed by his gubernatorial campaign before being allowed to raise money for mayor. The website includes an online petition calling on Cayetano to repay the money.