Posted on: Thursday, December 30, 2004

Complaints about GOP spending dismissed

By Derrick DePledge
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

The state Campaign Spending Commission yesterday dismissed complaints against several Republican state lawmakers and an unsuccessful Republican candidate over their involvement with political action committees.

State Democrats had claimed that the Republicans violated campaign spending law by serving as officers on the committees, which were created to help other Republican candidates, while also campaigning for office.

The complaints were dismissed against state representatives Chris Halford, R-11th (S. Maui), Barbara Marumoto, R-19th (Kaimuki, Kahala, Wai'alae Iki), and Colleen Meyer, R-47th (Ha'iku, Kahalu'u, La'ie), for their involvement with GOP House PAC. Complaints were also dismissed against state Rep. William "Bud" Stonebraker, R-17th (Hawai'i Kai, Kalama Valley) for his New Hawai'i PAC and against Julia Allen, an unsuccessful candidate, for her work with District 20 Republicans.

But Halford and Stonebraker have chosen to voluntarily dissolve their political action committees after Bob Watada, the commission's executive director, said they could face new complaints for soliciting money for their own campaigns and the committees from the same sources. District 20 Republicans had already been disbanded.

Halford described the Democrats' complaints as frivolous.

Stonebraker said the complaints were groundless but decided to end his committee to "avoid any possibility of impropriety."

Josh Wisch, who led the House Democrats' campaigns this year and filed the complaints, said he was satisfied. "We actually got what we were hoping for," he said. "These committees no longer exist."

Halford gave the remaining $350 left in his PAC to the Hawai'i Foodbank. Stonebraker gave the $3,100 left in his committee to community groups and charity, including $1,000 to victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami.

"It was a blessing in disguise," Stonebraker said.

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.