Mirikitani marries before retiring from City Council

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser City Hall Writer

On the eve of his retirement as a City Council member, Andy Mirikitani married his girlfriend, the co-defendant in his bribery case.

Council administrative officials said Mirikitani filed paperwork on Friday indicating that he was adding Sharron Bynum as his spouse, making her eligible for lifetime medical and dental benefits.

Mirikitani and Bynum are to be sentenced today in federal court.

How much the benefits will cost taxpayers hasn't been determined.

"It's sad that Andy's last act as a councilman was to again bilk taxpayers out of more money," Council Chairman Jon Yoshimura said last night.

Mirikitani, an attorney, could not be reached for comment. He was convicted July 3 of theft, bribery, extortion, wire fraud and witness tampering for offering two former aides bonuses if they kicked back a share of the money to him. He is expected to serve prison time.

Bynum was found guilty of theft and extortion.

Federal prosecutors said that Mirikitani, 45, is the highest-ranking elected official in Hawai'i to be convicted of a federal crime while in office.

State law allowed him to remain in office until his sentencing, but Mirikitani announced recently that he would retire Dec. 1.

Bynum and Mirikitani began appearing together at public events in mid-1999. Bynum, 52, was a city property manager, whose contract expired at the end of June.

Mirikitani and Bynum were seen Friday meeting with a staff member near Honolulu Hale. Mirikitani was in a tuxedo and Bynum was in a wedding dress.