Posted on: Friday, November 22, 2002

Group to raise inauguration money

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

A nonprofit corporation has been established to raise money and organize three events associated with the inauguration of Gov.-elect Linda Lingle.

About $350,000 is needed to put on the actual inauguration ceremony on Dec. 2, a dinner-dance that evening and a free picnic the following evening, Lingle officials said in a prepared release yesterday.

The inauguration ceremony will include a parade, concert and procession leading up to the swearing-in at noon at the State Capitol atrium.

The dinner-dance that evening at the Monarch Room of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel will carry a $150 price and is by invitation.

The Dec. 3 event, dubbed the "Ohana Party," will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Ala Moana Beach Park. It is free to those who obtain tickets from Lingle campaign headquarters at 1290 Ala Moana. Tickets are limited to two per person.

"We anticipate revenues for these inaugural events to be generated from the ticket sales to the dinner dance, sponsorships from various companies, individuals, and organizations and private contributions," said Travis Thompson, head of Lingle's transition team and the president and director of the nonprofit corporation.

Any leftover money would be donated to charities and the committee dissolved after the inauguration work is completed, Thompson said.

Lingle spokesman Lloyd Yonenaka said none of the money for inaugural events will come from either taxpayers or the governor-elect's campaign coffers.

The Legislature appropriated $50,000 for the gubernatorial transition, even though Gov. Ben Cayetano had sought $100,000. Yonenaka said money is being directed toward finding a Cabinet.

As for expending campaign money, Yonenaka said, "we don't feel that's a proper use of campaign funds."

Robert Watada, executive director for the state Campaign Spending Commission, said Lingle attorneys spoke to his office about setting up a separate, nonprofit group focused on the inauguration.

"People are giving money ... to help defray the cost of the inauguration," Watada said.

He noted that other high-ranking officials, including Cayetano, former Gov. John Waihee, Mayor Jeremy Harris and former Mayor Frank Fasi have also raised money to pay for inauguration costs although he could not be sure all set up actual nonprofit groups.

Watada said his office was told that the Lingle team was intending to make its inauguration donor list public.

Reach Gordon Pang at 525-8070 or gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com.