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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, March 30, 2002

Mayor's case put on hold

By David Waite
Advertiser Staff Writer

Mayor Jeremy Harris should wait to see how the state Campaign Spending Commission treats a complaint filed against him by the commission's executive director before asking the federal courts to intervene, U.S. District Judge Susan Mollway ruled yesterday.

Mollway dismissed a case brought by Harris and the Democratic National Committee against commission executive director Robert Watada, who has alleged that Harris' campaign organization broke a number of state campaign finance laws by failing to report more than $100,000 it raised for the Democratic National Committee in 2000.

Harris' attorneys have argued that the matter is regulated solely by federal campaign contribution laws and that the state commission has no say.

In a court hearing Monday, Mollway asked Harris' lawyers why the court should get involved before the commission's five voting members rule on the case. Lawyers for Harris argued that while Watada's complaint is groundless, it is causing his campaign irreparable harm.

In her ruling, Mollway noted that the Campaign Spending Commission is scheduled to vote on the matter at its April 17 meeting.

Mollway gave Harris until April 30 to file an amended complaint "if the commissioners meet and decide to take any action other than dismissing Watada's complaint."

Harris attorney Chris Parsons called the ruling "great news for us" even though Mollway dismissed the case against Watada. Parsons said he believes the language in the ruling "is a very strong indication" from Mollway to the commission that it should toss out Watada's complaint against Harris.

"Judge Mollway wants to know what the Campaign Spending Commission is going to do with Watada's complaint and if they don't dismiss it, I think she is saying we should come back and talk to her," Parsons said.

Watada could not be reached to comment on the matter.

Harris claims Watada launched a series of politically motivated allegations against him in an effort to hurt Harris' chances in the 2002 governor's race.

Watada has denied those charges.