State Rep. Romy Cachola agreed to pay a $2,496 fine to the state and reimburse his campaign $32,166 to settle a complaint filed against him by the Campaign Spending Commission.

The commission charged that Cachola used a Nissan SUV, paid for by his campaign committee, for personal use. It also questioned his use of campaign funds to pay for expenditures labeled as "public relations" and "food and beverages."

Cachola has already made $28,245 in reimbursements to his campaign committee and will need to pay the $3,871 difference, in addition to the fine.

The amount of the reimbursement is half of the $64,332 in questionable campaign expenditures. Included in that amount is $30,437 used to purchase the SUVfrom a local Nissan dealer in March 2008, while Cachola was still a member of the Honolulu City Council.

Earlier this year state investigators conducted a weeklong surveillance of Cachola and his use of the SUV. During that time, Cachola drove from his Kalihi home to his wife’s Kalihi street medical office, the state Capitol, Honolulu Country Club and St. Anthony’s Church, commission documents stated.

The veteran lawmaker, first elected to the Legislature in 1984, did not appear at Thursday’s commission meeting. His attorney, Michael Green, noted that the agreement between Cachola and commission Executive Director Kristin Izumi-Nitao states his client "did not knowingly, intentionally or recklessly" violate campaign financing laws. Cachola also cooperated fully with the commission, Green said.

He said he pointed out to commission staff that there were expenses incurred by Cachola — including the cost of storage space in his home for campaign materials — for which he never charged the campaign.

Besides the fines and reimbursements, Cachola is agreeing to comply with campaign financing laws, including keeping a mileage log for the SUV.

Green declined to say whether Cachola intends to continue using the SUV for personal reasons, only that he would follow applicable laws.

But Izumi-Nitao said her staff and the veteran lawmaker are discussing the possibility of him purchasing the vehicle from his campaign.

The city Ethics Commission is also separately investigating Cachola about his years on the Honolulu City Council. Cachola, his attorneys and commission staff have declined to discuss the nature of that investigation.

Cachola is running unopposed in his House re-election bid this year.