Minutes for October 13, 2005

Campaign Spending Commission Meeting
Leiopapa A Kamehameha Building, Room 204
October 13, 2005
10:00 a.m.

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

Staff Present:
Robert Watada, Grant Tanimoto, Barbara Wong, Ellen Kojima

Call to Order:
Meeting convened at 10:00 a.m. with Chairperson Kuramoto presiding.

Consideration of Minutes:
Deferred until next meeting.

Old Business:
Docket  04-05 Professional Results v. Miles Furutani
Complaint alleged that legal services that Miles Furutani provided the Dalton Tanonaka campaign were not reported as an in-kind contribution to the campaign.

Docket 04-06 Professional Results v. Dalton for Hawaii
Complaint alleged that the Dalton Tanonaka received improper loans, failed to report loans as contributions to the campaign and failed to report expenditures.

Docket 05-03 In Re the Matter of Dalton Tanonaka, Dalton for Hawaii Campaign, Russell Hata, Carol Tsai, Miles Furutani and Lance Masatsugu
Complaint alleges the receipt of improper contributions.

Staff continuing to discuss issues with attorneys involved and recommends that the complaints be deferred until the next meeting.

Mr. Gabrio moved to defer Dockets 04-05, 04-06 and 05-03 until the next meeting, Mr. Weaver seconded.  Motion carried.

New Business:
Docket 05-04 David Kimo Frankel v. James Y. Arakaki
Complaint alleges that donations to a legal fund to pay legal bills should have been reported as campaign contributions by the Arakaki committee.

Staff is in discussions with Brian DeLima, representing James Arakaki and recommend that the matter be deferred until next meeting pending receipt of letter from Mr. DeLima on how the matter will be resolved.

Mr. Weaver moved to defer matter until the next meeting, Mr. Gabrio seconded.  Motion carried.

Conciliation Agreement 05-09 In Re the Matter of M & E Pacific, Inc. and Edward Harada
Investigation found that false name contributions made through several individuals should have been attributed to M & E Pacific, Inc.  None of the contributions have been attributed to Rudy Mina, who was president at the time, as the monies contributed funneled only through Edward Harada.  The Prosecutor has taken action against both Mr. Mina and Mr. Harada and they both since pled no contest.

Staff recommends and it has been agreed to by Mr. Harada a fine of $39,000.  Mr. Mina is not connected to the conciliation agreement, but he has agreed to share in the fine with Mr. Harada.

Mr. Gabrio moved to accept conciliation agreement 05-09, Mr. Weaver seconded.  Motion carried.

Agenda Amended – Mr. Weaver moved to amend item 7, Executive Session of the agenda to add discussion on interpretation of the law, Mr. Olbrich seconded.  Motion carried.  

Communication to Commission:
Meeting scheduled for November 10, 2005 at 1:00 to review proposed amendments to the Hawaii Administrative Rules.

Next Meeting:
Scheduled for Wednesday, November 9, 2005 at 10:00 a.m.

Chair Kuramoto moved to convene executive session and informed public that public session will be reconvened only to adjourn meeting.

Public session reconvened no further business to discuss, Mr. Olbrich moved to adjourn meeting, Mr. Weaver seconded.  Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 11:35 a.m.