Mansho quits City Hall amid 'personal problems'

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By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser City Hall Writer

Faced with the threat of criminal charges, City Councilwoman Rene Mansho yesterday abruptly resigned, ending an almost 14-year career on the day an O'ahu grand jury was to have heard from a dozen witnesses on allegations that she committed theft and forgery while serving at City Hall.

Mansho said she was "ultimately responsible" for her problems. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Mansho said she is leaving to "resolve her personal problems" apart from the council. "Like the captain of a ship, you're ultimately responsible for everything," she said.

Jim Fulton of the city prosecutor's office declined to provide details of any plea negotiations.

"It's inappropriate for this office to comment on whether there is a deal or not," he said.

In similar cases, city prosecutors have allowed suspects to waive indictment and turn themselves over to police for processing and fingerprinting prior to arraignment.

Mansho, 52, ended her last day as a county politician after 6 last night in a teary farewell after sitting through hours of routine committee meetings. She participated in most of the meetings, prompting audience members to shake their heads over her ability to act as though it was a normal day.

She has represented the Waipi'o/Mililani/North Shore district since October 1988. But over the past year, her tenure has been tainted by various allegations that she misused her city staff and campaign money and most recently was dogged by a citizens' drive to remove her from office.

Attorney Bill Saunders, who filed the petition to recall Mansho, said he's pleased by her resignation. "We're sorry it didn't happen earlier," he said. "We're a little concerned about any special treatment that might be granted to her in terms of a plea bargain."

Mansho apologized in her letter of resignation to colleagues and constituents.

Former Mansho aide Michelle Kidani, one of those who was called to testify against her former boss, said, "While I regret that her family had to endure this embarrassing end to what should have been a long and prominent career, at the same time I feel somewhat vindicated in that she has acknowledged her illegal acts and apologized to the taxpayers of Honolulu."

Mansho and her attorney earlier had had blamed some of her troubles on disgruntled employees. Kidani said, "Her downfall was not due to disgruntled employees but rather her employees were disgruntled because the downfall of her ethics."

Mansho maintained her composure throughout the day as city workers, colleagues and visitors hugged her and wished her well. But as the last committee ended last night, she grew teary.

City Council Chairman John DeSoto said a replacement for Mansho could be approved by the Council at the April 24th meeting and there is consensus that the interim member shouldn't plan on running for the Council in the fall.

DeSoto said the short list so far under consideration for the job are: Waipahu Community Association Executive Director Darrlyn Bunda; Mililani Golf Club's chief pro Mark Kalilikane, executive director for the World Junior Golf Foundation; North Shore Neighborhood Board member Jake Ng; and Barbers Point Naval Air Station Redevelopment Commission executive director Bill Bass.

Mansho was a teacher at Mililani Uka Elementary School and a political novice when she ran in 1988 to replace Democrat Randall Iwase, who left his Council seat in mid-term to run for mayor.

For most of her career, she has been known mainly for a swing vote that killed a rapid-transit plan backed by then-Mayor Frank Fasi. More recently, she has been a colorful figure at City Hall for many years, getting attention for her effusive adoption of "aloha" in her greetings, her bright flowered dresses and her electric car.

But her troubles have been mounting:

• In 2000, the city Ethics Commission looked into her use of an electric car from Global Electric Motorcars. Mansho admitted paying only a token amount to lease the vehicle and using city electricity to recharge it.

She defended her use of the car as a way to promote nonpolluting vehicles. But critics questioned if it was appropriate that Mansho advocate that the city buy more electric vehicles while she was promoting the GEM vehicle. The Ethics Commission said Mansho should end the lease agreement so she bought the car for $11,000 — a $1,000 discount because it was used.

• On March 13, 2001, the state Campaign Spending Commission approved a $40,000 fine against Mansho for misusing campaign money.

Commission executive director Robert Watada said that from 1989 to 1994, Mansho spent more than $48,000 for personnel expenses such as travel, meals, UH football season tickets, Christmas parties and library fines.

• On March 15, 2001, the city Ethics Commission said it had reached a settlement in which Mansho would pay $40,000 for using her Council staff members to perform noncity work. That money was paid to reimburse the city for part of the misused money as a result of the Commission's probe.

Commission executive director Chuck Totto said it was estimated staff time spent on noncity work amounted to $148,000. A commission report said Mansho used her staff to manage her campaign finances and to support the Aloha Boat Days effort to re-create nostalgic greetings for cruise ship arrivals.

• In January, a citizens' group filed a petition signed by more than 1,400 residents of Mansho's district seeking her impeachment.

North Shore Neighborhood Board member Ken Newfield said he thought Mansho took too long to resign. "Her district has been without effective representation for a long time," Newfield said. "It's about time that she learned aloha means goodbye."

Asked how she'd like to be remembered, Mansho said she hopes people think of her when they see the parks and the community projects she supported in the sprawling district: "She fought hard; she represented her district well."

Many people polled at the Town Center of Mililani shopping center yesterday felt she should have stepped down much earlier.

Mililani resident Jeffrey Layaoen, 32, said he felt those in public service should be held to a higher standard.

"You have to set the examples for the others, especially for the kids," Layaoen said. "People make mistakes, but if you cannot uphold the standards, you should at least own up to your mistakes."

Others were sorry to hear of her resignation. Berlina Mindoro, who described herself as a strong Mansho supporter, said she was sad the councilwoman had stepped down. She praised Mansho for getting financing for many community projects and for responding quickly to community concerns.

Advertiser Staff Writers Scott Ishikawa and Kevin Dayton contributed to this report.