Posted on: Friday, January 25, 2002

Mansho target of second impeachment effort

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Mansho: Paid $80,000 in fines

A Honolulu lawyer yesterday filed a petition with the Hawai'i Supreme Court that seeks to impeach City Councilwoman Rene Mansho for state campaign spending and city ethics violations.

It is the second attempt by voters in her Central O'ahu district to remove Mansho since last June, when a group tried unsuccessfully to force a recall election.

Last year, Mansho admitted to state campaign spending and city ethics violations related to misuse of campaign money and city employees' time. Mansho agreed to pay a total of $80,000 in fines.

Attorney William Saunders Jr., who filed the petition signed by more than 1,400 people, said Mansho abused her privileges as a council member. He said the petitioners are mostly from the Mililani area.

Mansho yesterday said she had no comment on the impeachment effort. She said her goal is to serve out her term this year.

"I enjoy what I'm doing, and I enjoy serving the community," she said.

Mansho said attorney James Koshiba will likely represent her in any legal matters.

The Hawai'i Supreme Court is the only entity with the power to impeach and remove Mansho from office, said Saunders, a partner with Bickerton Saunders & Dang.

"The community has been outraged by Ms. Mansho's many illegal activities and she needs to be held accountable," Saunders said in a written statement. "Impeachment will help vindicate the public interest and restore integrity to county government."

The City Charter says that a council member "may be impeached for malfeasance, misfeasance or nonfeasance." Yesterday's filing is believed to be the first time a council member has faced such proceedings in City Charter history.

Mansho, a former schoolteacher who represents the district covering Mililani, Wahiawa and the North Shore, was elected to the council in 1988, but must leave office this year because of term limits.