Conflict of interest alleged in city vote on eco-camp
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser City Hall Writer
Honolulu taxpayers are likely to end up paying up to $20,000 to hire private attorneys to represent two City Council members who have been accused of conflicts of interest by a group that opposed the construction of an eco-tourism camp at Pua'ena Point in Hale'iwa.
On Oct. 16, 2000, the Friends to Preserve Pua'ena Point wrote to the city Ethics Commission alleging conflicts of interest by council members John DeSoto and Rene Mansho in connection with the proposed North Shore campers' resort.
This week, the Council Policy Committee approved in closed session the hiring of two attorneys at a cost of up to $10,000 each. Both DeSoto and Mansho said they declined to vote on hiring an attorney on their behalf.
The hiring of the attorneys is set for adoption by the full council on Wednesday.
Both Mansho and DeSoto voted in favor of the camp project on Oct. 18, which was approved by a 6-to-3 Council vote. Developer Campers Villages LLC plans to build a 72-unit camp on land owned by Kamehameha Schools.
The project drew a mixed reaction on the North Shore, with some residents welcoming the developer's proposal to build in the shoreline area as an economic boost that will allow for more access to the shore. Opponents fought the move, saying the tourist-oriented development doesn't belong there.
DeSoto's wife, Patty, leases Kamehameha land for a horse ranch. DeSoto files a declaration of that potential conflict when votes affecting Kamehameha Schools arise.
DeSoto said he did so in this case as he has done before. He doesn't think the city should hire a private attorney to represent him in this case."I know that I have no conflict," DeSoto said.
Mansho declined to comment on the alleged conflict of interest.
Some of the group's members wrote the letter last year and said they didn't think anything came of their concerns until they received a call from The Advertiser yesterday .
Friends president Richard Knobel noted that Mansho changed her position from opposition to support. And campaign spending reports indicate that developer Lewis Geyser contributed $1,000 to Mansho's campaign by June 27, 2000, several months before the vote on the camp.
City Ethics Commission executive director Chuck Totto said he could only confirm that the original letter was filed.
