Posted on: Thursday, October 14, 2004

Two engineering firms fined for donations

Advertiser Staff

The state Campaign Spending Commission voted yesterday to approve a settlement fining two sister engineering companies $61,000 for making about $155,000 in illegal campaign contributions to Hawai'i politicians.

KFC Airport Inc. agreed to pay $31,000, and KFC Engineering Management Inc. agreed to pay $30,000.

Bob Watada, the commission's executive director, said the companies made illegal campaign contributions through false names and in excess of donation limits.

The contributions, made between 1997 and 2002, included $51,000 to Mayor Jeremy Harris' campaign, $31,000 to Mazie Hirono's gubernatorial campaign, $25,000 to former Gov. Ben Cayetano's campaign, and $12,500 to Gov. Linda Lingle's campaign.

Dale Lee, an attorney for the companies, did not return a telephone call for comment yesterday. But he said earlier that company executives were "looking forward to putting this behind them."

The commission voted 3-1 on the settlement, with commissioner Dean Robb recusing himself. Commissioner Steven Olbrich voted against the settlement, saying he believed it was too lenient. "I would like to fine them more, personally," he said.

The commission had the authority to fine the companies as much as triple the amount of the illegal contributions.