Mink's backers to clear books
By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Staff Writer
The campaign committee for the late Congresswoman Patsy Mink is asking the Federal Election Commission's approval to dispose of $185,000 in campaign money.
The bulk of the money would go to repay $127,590 in personal loans Mink made to her own campaign committee in 1990.
Campaign officials want to make sure, however, that it is appropriate for John Mink, her husband and campaign committee treasurer, to pay the money to her estate, of which he is the sole beneficiary.
John Mink said yesterday the FEC has given verbal approval of the plan and he doesn't expect any problem in paying all the bills and shutting down the campaign committee by the end of November.
The committee also is asking permission to spend some of the remaining funds on political expenses associated with the campaign.
"We're not planning any new expenses," John Mink said. "We just want to pay off some of the small outstanding debts for postage and other small bills. We will not accept new contributions."
A preliminary plan to dispose of remaining campaign money includes:
• A $5,000 to $10,000 donation to the Straub Hospital and Clinic Charity. Patsy Mink died Sept. 28 of viral pneumonia after being hospitalized at Straub.
• The establishment of a new organization to be called The Patsy Takemoto Mink Education Foundation for Low Income Women and Children. John Mink said he plans to donate most of the money received from the loan repayment to the foundation.
Patsy Mink's name remains on the Nov. 4 general election ballot along with that of Republican Bob McDermott and two other candidates. If she wins, a special election in January will fill her seat in Congress.
McDermott said yesterday that his campaign has raised about $75,000 so far and has about $7,500 still available.
Also yesterday McDermott unveiled two new television campaign advertisements, focusing on McDermott's own ideas and campaign rather than older ones which challenged the late congresswoman's record, he said.
