Posted on: Friday, November 12, 2004
Republicans accused of campaign violations
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
Hawai'i Democrats are charging that four Republican state representatives and an unsuccessful GOP House candidate violated campaign spending law because they were officers in political action committees while running for office.
The three complaints filed against the five individuals are expected to get their first airing before the state Campaign Spending Commission today. One complaint involves Julia Allen, a first-time candidate who unsuccessfully challenged state Rep. Calvin Say, D-20th (St. Louis Hts., Palolo, Wilhelmina Rise) and, at least through part of the election, was also chairwoman of the PAC known as District 20 Republicans.
Joshua Wisch, House caucus campaign coordinator for the Hawai'i Democratic Party, said Allen's dual roles violated an elections law and that the PAC was "a mere attempt to circumvent the law against excess contributions by funneling funds through the PAC to the committee to elect Julia Allen."
Mike Palcic, Allen's husband and campaign treasurer, said there was no doubling-up on contributions to help the Allen campaign. District 20 Republicans was set up to, in part, elect a Republican into the district's House seat but Allen stepped in as a candidate only after another prospect bowed out suddenly, Palcic said. After Allen became a candidate, she was removed as a signatory on the PAC's checking account as instructed by Republican leaders, Palcic said, and the PAC itself was dissolved later that month before Wisch's complaint was filed.
Hawai'i Republican Party chairman Brennon Morioka said it was "inadvertent" that Allen was not removed as the PAC's chairwoman sooner.
Wisch also filed complaints against New Hawaii PAC, set up by Rep. Bud Stonebraker, R-17th (Hawai'i Kai, Kalama Valley) to help other GOP candidates, and GOP HOUSE PAC, set up for the same purpose. 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) were named as officers in the second complaint.
Wisch said an advisory opinion issued by the commission bars an individual from serving as an officer on two campaign committees.
Morioka said there were no violations because both of those PACs were established by the incumbents to help other Republicans get elected into the House, not to help themselves.
Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.
