Minutes for August 8, 2007

Campaign Spending Commission Meeting
Leiopapa A Kamehameha Building, Room 204
August 8, 2007
9:30 a.m.

Members Present:
Paul Kuramoto, Steven Olbrich, Gino Gabrio, Dean Robb, Michael Weaver

Staff Present:
Barbara Wong, Tony Baldomero, Grant Tanimoto, Ellen Kojima

Call to Order:
Meeting convened at 9:30 a.m. with Chairperson Kuramoto presiding.

Consideration of Minutes:
Mr. Gabrio moved to accept the minutes of July 11, 2007.  Motion seconded by Mr. Olbrich.  Motion carried.

Old Business:
Docket 07-01 Green Party of Hawaii vs. Hawaii Chapter of Society of Prof Journalists, et al.
Staff review Advisory Opinion 06-07, which provides guidance on candidate debates.  Based upon the opinion, Docket 07-01 may be resolved by examining the definition of contribution (anything of value intended for the purpose of influencing the election of a person to office0, or by the debate exception which requires pre-established objective criteria for the selection of participants.  All the evidence indicated that the purpose of the debate was not to influence the election of a particular candidate.  Moreover, KITV provided the pre-established selection criteria for debate participants.

Mr. Jim Brewer, Co-Chair of the Green Party reiterated that the voters of the state are being denied an alternative view because their party was not allowed to participate in the debate, and that the candidates that participated received a contribution from the broadcast stations.

Mr. Olbrich, after review of the information, recommended the complaint be dismissed because criteria had been established prior to the debate.

Mr. Olbrich moved to dismiss the complaint.  Motion seconded by Mr. Robb.  Motion carried.  (Gabrio-recused)

Mr. Kuramoto asked that Mr. Rosenberg be informed that conducting polls before holding debates was not required by the Commission.

Communication to Commission:
Training Classes Scheduled for November 2007
Training classes have been scheduled for November for candidates and committees and are open to the public.  Classes will be repeated in February and July 2008.

International Women’s Leadership Conference
3 to attend conference being held in September – Executive Director B. Wong, L. Takushi and E. Kojima

Overview of 7/06 – 6/07 Year
Executive Director presented an annual report on accomplishments for the fiscal year, and what can be expected for the coming fiscal year 07-08.

Next Meeting:
Scheduled for Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at 10:00 a.m.

Mr. Robb moved to convene executive session to consult with attorney.  Motion seconded by Mr. Olbrich.  Motion carried.

Public session reconvened.
Mr. Olbrich moved to adjourn meeting.  Motion seconded by Mr. Robb.  Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 11:55 p.m.