By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
The state Campaign Spending Commission has offered a settlement to Honolulu City Councilwoman Rene Mansho, who has been investigated for her use of campaign money to pay for city-sponsored trips.
 |
| Rene Mansho said no laws were broken intentionally.
Advertiser library photo • 3 Feb. 2001 |
Commission executive director Bob Watada said the proposed settlement provides that Mansho pay a fine, and the commission will not refer her case to the state attorney general’s office.
Mansho has until Tuesday to respond.
Watada would not disclose the amount of the fine, and declined to discuss other details of the settlement.
The commission had been focusing on more than $32,000 in expenses paid through Mansho’s campaign funds for dozens of city business trips over the past decade. The expenses include $12,212 in American Express charges and $5,163 in cell phone charges.
The commission has said the expenses have no apparent connection to a campaign and are thus illegal. Mansho has said she did not intentionally break the law and that she would correct any problems, including reimbursements if misuses were found.
Mansho was out of town yesterday and could not be reached for comment. Her lawyer, Charles Price, also could not be reached for comment.
Watada said the commission decided to propose a settlement after Price approached his office.
"We felt that it would be in the best interest of everybody," he said.
The commission is scheduled to discuss the settlement offer at its March 13 meeting.
Sources also have said the Internal Revenue Service has made inquiries into some of Mansho’s expenses, and that campaign officials also are investigating allegations that Mansho required her staff to do campaign work on city time.
[back to top] |
