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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, August 15, 2008

Ex-senator in the clear after 5 years of scrutiny

By Rick Daysog
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Former state Sen. Cal Kawamoto

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The state Campaign Spending Commission has ended its five-year investigation into former state Sen. Cal Kawamoto.

By a 3-1 vote Wednesday, the commission dismissed its remaining complaint against Kawamoto, which alleged that the ex-Waipahu lawmaker improperly transferred $130,000 of his campaign funds to a Waipahu charity that he headed.

"He feels vindicated," said Earl Anzai, Kawamoto's attorney. "He did nothing wrong. He felt he was being picked on."

The dismissal has no bearing on a 2004 settlement with the commission in which Kawamoto and his campaign agreed to pay a $21,250 fine for failing to report dozens of campaign contributions.

Anzai said the commission misinterpreted state law when it cited Kawamoto for transferring leftover campaign funds to the Waipahu Community Adult Day Health Care and Youth Day Care Center, which he ran at the time. The transfers were governed by a section of state law that allows unlimited donations by a candidate, Anzai said.

The transfer came after Kawamoto lost his re-election bid in November 2004.

"Whoever charged him in the first place ignored the law," Anzai said.

Barbara Wong, the commission's executive director, could not be reached for immediate comment.

A prolific campaign fundraiser, Kawamoto served in the state Legislature for 10 years and was chairman of the Senate transportation committee before losing his seat to retired school vice principal Clarence Nishihara.

Kawamoto also headed the nonprofit Waipahu Community center, which operates a $3 million, 9,000-square foot facility.

The commission also charged that Kawamoto bought a $26,000 Subaru Baja sport utility vehicle with campaign funds in 2003, even though the truck was largely used for Kawamoto's personal trips.

Kawamoto later repaid his campaign for the truck.

In 2005, the commission referred its investigation of the money transfer to the state attorney general's office for a criminal investigation.

But the attorney general's office took no action and sent back the investigation to the Campaign Spending Commission for further review.

Reach Rick Daysog at rdaysog@honoluluadvertiser.com.