Political consultant Donald Clegg, credited with helping Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi regain his office in 1984 after being behind in opinion polls, has died.
Clegg, of Waialae Nui Ridge, died on Dec. 22 in Honolulu. He was 87.
Clegg served as deputy director of the city Department of Land Utilization until Fasi lost to Eileen Anderson in 1980.
While working as a pollster for Fasi in 1984, Clegg noticed that voters could not recall what Anderson had done in her four years as mayor but planned to vote for her, said Keith Rollman, who served as a marketing consultant for Fasi’s campaign. She was then leading in the polls.
Rollman recalled that Clegg’s discovery turned into a television advertisement in which voters were asked if they could remember what Anderson had done in office. The question was followed by the sound of a clock ticking for several seconds, before the same question was asked about Fasi, followed by a list of his accomplishments.
"It was a pretty effective advertising campaign," Rollman recalled. "It came straight from Don’s polling survey. He was a very accurate pollster."
Under Fasi, Clegg also served as director of the city departments of General Planning and Data Systems.
He worked off and on for his political consulting firm, Analytical Planning Consultants, until 2010.
Outside of government, he served as an emeritus board member of the USS Missouri Memorial Association.
Clegg was born in 1927 in the Philippines and was a graduate of the University of Southern California.
He is survived by wife Glenna; daughters Sandra Clegg and Michele Yamanaka; and sister Patricia Carver.
A celebration of his life and scattering of ashes is scheduled at 4 p.m. Monday at the Elks Lodge at 2933 Kalakaua Ave. Visitation starts at 3:15 p.m. Casual attire.
Donations in his name may be made to the USS Missouri and Planned Parenthood Hawaii.
