Former trustee not running for mayor

Advertiser Staff

Former Bishop Estate trustee Lokelani Lindsey, recently released from federal prison, has no plans to run for mayor of Honolulu, despite an advertising campaign touting her as a candidate for that office, Lindsey's lawyer said yesterday.

A group calling itself "friends of Lokelani Lindsey for Mayor Christian Filipino Victims Foundation," headed by convicted felon Richard Basuel, paid for a full-page ad in the Fil Am Courier newspaper that urges voters to "elect Lokelani Lindsey Mayor of Honolulu."

Basuel and two associates tried to purchase a similar half-page ad in The Advertiser last month but the ad was rejected after Lindsey's attorney, William Harrison, said Lindsey had no plans to seek public office and had not authorized such an advertisement.

Basuel, 62, was convicted in state court in February of multiple counts of tax fraud and tax evasion and is facing trial in federal court on similar tax charges. He told The Advertiser last month that he had not spoken with Lindsey about running for mayor but that Lindsey's husband supported the idea.

Lindsey was still in federal prison at the time, finishing a six-month sentence for bankruptcy fraud.

As a convicted felon, she is prevented by state law from running for public office.

"She's not running for office and she has not authorized this ad campaign at all," Harrison said.

Lindsey "was shocked to hear about it," according to Harrison.

Robert Watada, executive director of the state Campaign Spending Commission, said Basuel's group is required to register with the commission but has failed to so.

The group could be fined $50 for violating campaign spending laws, said Watada.

Basuel is facing fines of more than $2 million, as well as up to 98 years in prison, for his state criminal convictions. Circuit Judge Michael Wilson will sentence Basuel on May 12.