Minutes for April 20, 2005

Campaign Spending Commission Meeting
Leiopapa A Kamehameha Building, Room 204
April 20, 2005
10:00 a.m.

Members Present:
A. Duane Black, Steven Olbrich, Gino Gabrio, Paul Kuramoto, Dean Robb

Staff Present:
Robert Watada, Tony Baldomero, Grant Tanimoto, Ellen Kojima

Joanna Fong, Deputy Attorney General

Call to Order:
Meeting convened at 10:05 a.m. with Chairman Black presiding.

Consideration of Minutes:
Mr. Olbrich moved to accept the minutes of March 9, 2005, Mr. Gabrio seconded. Motion carried.

Old Business:
Complaint In Re The Matter Of Apoliona for OHA
Staff received a letter from Brian Kang, attorney representing Haunani Apoliona and her committee, requesting complaint be dismissed and as discussed at the last meeting a draft letter from the commission acknowledging that the committee was not at fault. Draft did not meet with commissioners approval and Mr. Watada informed commissioners that he is working with Gary Kam, Deputy AG on a response.

Matter continued until the next meeting.

New Business:
Conciliation Agreement 05-04.2 Imata & Associates, Inc. and Gordon Imata
This is the second agreement with this company, during the initial investigation Mr. Imata insisted that there were no other reimbursements made. Investigation was re-opened when the HPD investigator found a number of individuals who said that Mr. Imata reimbursed them for making contributions. Because of the time and the fact that Mr. Imata was not very cooperative the fine is based on $2,000 for false name and $1,000 for excess contributions. Staff recommends a fine of $55,000 be assessed.

Mr. Gabrio moved to accept the conciliation agreement, Mr. Robb seconded. Motion carried.

Conciliation Agreement 05-05 INK Architects, Inc. Dennis Irie, Maurice Kondo and Dennis Nakamoto
As the parties Dennis Irie, Maurice Kondo, and Dennis Nakamoto are no longer together, investigation took a little longer because Mr. Kondo was the only party still with the company when the investigation was opened. Staff is recommending that the fine for the false name contributions be assessed between the three individuals - Kondo; $3,000, Irie; $1,000 and Nakamoto; $5.000 for a total of $9,000.

After some discussion it was agreed that the fine for Mr. Nakamoto was miscalculated and that it should be $7,000.

Mr. Robb moved to accept the conciliation agreement with the exception that Dennis Nakamoto's fine be $7,000 instead of the amount stated in the proposed draft agreement, Mr. Kuramoto seconded. Motion carried.

Communication to Commission:
Legislation
SB 440, HB 460, HB 1713 and HB 1747 are still moving through the legislature and all have been scheduled for conference committee meetings. The Governor has said that if HB 1713 is passed she will veto, because she does not agree with the concept of the bill.

Next Meeting:
Scheduled for Tuesday, May 10, 2005 at 10:00 pm

Mr. Olbrich moved to convene executive session to discuss personnel matters, Mr. Robb seconded. Motion carried.

Public session reconvened, no further business to discuss, Mr. Robb moved adjourn meeting, Mr. Olbrich seconded. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m.