Disclosures filed by candidates for Honolulu mayor late yesterday provide the first full look at relative strengths of the top candidates in raising money to fuel their campaigns, and three candidates were very closely matched in contributions received during the first six months of the year.
Keith Amemiya, who touts the fact that he has never held an elected office, raised more money in the first six months of 2020 than his opponents in the race for Honolulu mayor, but led broadcast executive Rick Blangiardi and former mayor Mufi Hannemann by only small margins.
Amemiya raised $468,769.37 in contributions during the six-month period, on top of $723,722.95 the campaign drew in during the second half of 2019. Although Amemiya’s campaign reported spending considerably more than any of his rivals, he ended the period with $379,986.70 in the bank.
Blangiardi was a close second, reporting total contributiosn of $453,609.35.
Hannemann, who was a last minute entrant in the large field of candidates, made a very strong showing by nearly matching the frontrunners, reporting contributions of $438,574.41. The former mayor’s fundraising surge is remarkable, as the entire amount was raised during the single month of June. And Hannemann almost matched Amemiya in the amount still on hand, with $379,986.70 in the bank at the end of the reporting period.
Former Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa, who also was the first woman to preside over the State Senate, trailed the three leaders with $278,048.59 in contributions. She ended the period with $194,844.93 in her campaign account, the smallest war chest among the candidates going into the crucial last weeks of the campaign.
City Councilmember Kymberly Pine trailed the other candidates in fundraising during the period, reporting contributions of $114,525.56 during the first six months of 2020. But Pine goes final weeks of the primary campaign with more cash on hand than any of her rivals. Pine reported $391,048.32 still in the bank, which was $11,000 more than Amemiya, and more than twice the amount Hanabusa had on hand.
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Their contributions give the impression that these candidates are bought and paid for.
I think it would be helpful if Schedule A included an indication of candidates’ family members.
Yes, you’re right. The raw data file includes a variable “contribution type” that includes “candidate,” “immedite family,” “individual,” as well as “noncandidate” and “other,” so you can easily identify family members. At least, those are the categories if I recall correctly. I’m writing this on my iPad and don’t have access to my download of the raw file. But even exporting from schedule A doesn’t get you to the “type” data.
I would like to see what politicians and candidates are receiving donations from SHOPO.
It may explain why the secrecy around police misconduct findings has continued for 20+ years with no action. Police officers are the ONLY city and state employees that are exempt from disclosure of misconduct that results in anything less than a full discharge or firing.
So an officer can have multiple suspensions for years and years, and the public has no right to know about it.
Legislative bills over the years go nowhere and usually die quietly in committee.
Biggest special interest war che$t + Most signs on every corner= Terrible politician.