Posted on: Thursday, September 9, 2004

Prosecutor candidates focus on 3-pronged war on 'ice'

By Ken Kobayashi
Advertiser Courts Writer

Incumbent Peter Carlisle faces a challenge from his predecessor, Keith Kaneshiro, in the winner-take-all primary election for city prosecutor.

Carlisle, 51, is seeking his third four-year term as the head of an office with an annual budget of about $14 million and more than 100 city deputy prosecutors to prosecute the tens of thousands of cases ranging from traffic citations to murders.

Kaneshiro, 55, the two-term prosecutor from 1988 to 1996, was head of the Department of Public Safety after he left office and later formed his own company and became a security consultant.

Both candidates say the crystal methamphetamine epidemic is a top priority for them. They both say prevention, treatment and enforcement must be part of the campaign in the war against ice.

Carlisle has handled eight trials as a prosecutor, including one that ended in the first-degree murder conviction for Byran Uyesugi, who gunned down seven fellow Xerox workers in 1999. Another resulted in a manslaughter conviction for former police officer Clyde Arakawa for a fatal 2000 auto collision.

Carlisle said he plans to continue handling trials as an example of leadership for his office.

He said crime on O'ahu has gone down during his tenure and the crime numbers are lower than the period when Kaneshiro was prosecutor.

During his years as prosecutor, Kaneshiro was the trial prosecutor for a murder case involving a gang-related shooting at his alma mater, Farrington High School.

But Kaneshiro said the war against crime won't be won in the courtroom, but in the community.

He said his focus will include going in the community and cooperating with other law enforcement agencies.

Kaneshiro said the law enforcement community is not united. He cited his endorsement from the O'ahu chapter of the State of Hawai'i Police Organization of Police Officers.

Both say they favor the four state constitutional amendment proposals in the Nov. 2 general election, including one that would allow prosecutors to send a defendant to trial by providing reports to a judge.

The annual salary for the city prosecutor is $99,807. The position is the only city elected post that does not have term limits.

Reach Ken Kobayashi at kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8030.

• • •

Peter Carlisle Born: Oct. 12, 1952 in Passaic, N.J. In Hawai'i since 1978. Job: Honolulu prosecuting attorney. Lives: Hawai'i Kai. Experience: City prosecutor 1996-present. Partner, Shim Tam Kirimitsu & Chang 1994-96. 2000 Person of the Year, Epilepsy Foundation of Hawaii. Five-gallon blood donor. Contact: prosecutor@petercarlisle.com; 395-2889; www.petercarlisle.com Why are you running for office? I would like to remain as Honolulu's prosecuting attorney because I believe this is good work that is worth doing and I enjoy it. How would your office attack the crystal meth problem? Create legal tools to identify and convict drug dealers and repeat offenders. Seek greater community emphasis on preventive measures. Besides "ice," what is O'ahu's most pressing criminal justice issue? Property crimes committed by drug dealers and repeat offenders; incarcerate them. What changes, if any, should be made to Hawai'i's sentencing laws? Close sentencing loopholes that permit repeat offenders to commit crime after crime without significant incarceration. What's the No. 1 initiative you'd pursue in 2005? Implement "Information Charging" to put more police in the community.

Keith Kaneshiro Born: Feb. 4, 1949 in Honolulu. Job: Attorney and security consultant, KMK Associates. Lives: Kaimuki. Experience: City prosecutor 1988-96. State public safety director 1997-98. President's Commission on Model State Drug Laws. Contact: keithmk@hawaii.rr.com; 596-0044; www.keithkaneshiro.com Why are you running for office? I plan to make a real difference against our crime and drug problems by using my extensive experience enforcing the law and protecting public safety. How would your office attack the crystal meth problem? Re-establish specialized drug prosecutors; more aggressively use existing drug laws; a better strategy balancing prevention, treatment, education and enforcement. Besides "ice," what is O'ahu's most pressing criminal justice issue? More prison bed space and more residential drug treatment, especially for juveniles. What changes, if any, should be made to Hawai'i's sentencing laws? Focus on enforcing existing laws more effectively: make better use of geographical restrictions on bail, probation and parole. What's the No. 1 initiative you'd pursue in 2005? Work with community on drug initiatives in prevention, treatment and enforcement.