Hirono raises $538K in 10 days
By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
Democrat Mazie Hirono's fund raising appears to have surged as the race for governor nears the finish line, according to campaign finance reports filed yesterday.
Hirono raised about $538,000 in the past 10 days, said her filing with the state Campaign Spending Commission. That's nearly one-fourth of her total contributions since 1998.
Republican candidate Linda Lingle raised about $380,000 from 236 contributions during the Oct. 21-31 reporting period.
Lingle, a former Maui mayor, still has raised twice as much money overall than Lt. Gov. Hirono, having received $4.55 million compared to Hirono's $2.23 million. But yesterday's filings marked the first time in this campaign that Hirono raised more money than Lingle in a particular period of time.
Lingle's contributions from the latest reporting period include $4,200 from Tesoro Hawaii, $2,000 from ChevronTexaco Corp., $1,500 from Bayer Corp., $1,500 from Johnson&Johnson Services Inc., and $3,000 from Aventis Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Lingle has denounced legislation passed this year that would set a price cap on gasoline and establish programs aimed at reducing the cost of prescription drugs for the uninsured, saying they were anti-competitive and would not work.
Lingle campaign spokesman Lloyd Yonenaka pointed out that those companies "are just a few of more than 10,000 contributors to our campaign.
Her opposition to those bills are based on fact." Yonenaka said the gas cap bill would drive up prices. Lingle has called the prescription drug bill ineffective.
Meanwhile, Hirono's campaign received $47,000 from nine Mainland carpenters union organizations, as well as contributions from some government contractors and some firms that have been fined by the Campaign Spending Commission for donating more than the legal limit to Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris.
Hirono has pledged to push for campaign spending reforms, including banning contributions from government contractors.
Hirono's contributions from government contractors included $4,000 from Albert C. Kobayashi Inc., $2,000 from Kai Hawaii Inc., $5,000 from Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade and Douglas, and $4,000 from CDS International. Hirono also received $2,500 from Brownlie & Lee landscape architects, $1,500 from Hawaii Design Associates, and $4,000 from Kodama/Okamoto Architects, all firms that have been fined by the commission.
Both Hirono and Lingle received $3,000 from Belt Collins Hawaii Ltd., which has been fined by the commission, and $4,000 from government contractor Gray Hong Bills Nojima & Associates. Lingle received $2,000 from AES Design Group, which was also fined.
Hirono campaign spokeswoman Barbara Tanabe said the contributions would have "no influence whatsoever" on how a Hirono administration might award contracts. She noted that those donors are just a few among many supporters from various backgrounds.
