EDITORIAL
Rotten campaign system comes into light

Because of the steady drip drip drip of fines, sanctions, criminal charges and other activity surrounding local campaign financing practices, it is tough to keep the larger picture in clear focus.

But when you step back and take a look, an astonishing pattern of campaign financing manipulation emerges. Dozens of fines have been imposed, and several criminal investigations have been launched.

All of them are aimed at what was, until recently, business as usual in local politics.

There is a similar pattern to most of these cases. In an effort to be more generous than what the law allows under contribution limits, many local companies would "bundle" large contributions in the names of various company officials or family members.

It's hard to believe that those who followed this practice did not understand it was illegal.

But for years, when bundling or over-contributing was discovered, the cure was usually an order to give the money back and perhaps a small slap on the wrist.

Not any more.

Consider this weekend's news: Michael Matsumoto, president of the respected consulting firm SSFM International Inc., will pay a record $303,000 fine to the state Campaign Spending Commission.

The fine was for funneling $425,000 to the campaigns of various politicians, including Mayor Jeremy Harris, former Gov. Ben Cayetano, former Maui Mayor James Apana, former City Councilman Arnold Morgado, former Mayor Frank Fasi and former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono.

Matsumoto earlier pleaded no contest to a felony money-laundering charge in the case.

At a somewhat less flamboyant level, Gary Okamoto, president of Wilson Okamoto and Associates Inc., agreed to pay a $45,000 fine for illegal donations to Harris, Cayetano, Morgado, Apana and Hirono.

Then there was attorney Edward Chun, who has already pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor campaign violation last month. He agreed to a $3,500 fine for helping get illegal campaign contributions to the Harris campaign.

We take no pleasure in the embarrassment and difficulties faced by Matsumoto, Okamoto, Chun and others. They have been caught up in a game where the rules changed, or to be more precise, where the rules finally are being enforced.

But perhaps they can comfort themselves — at least a bit — with the thought that they have become front-line troops in the war to reform what had clearly become a rotten system.