Category Archives: lobbyists

Money speaks loudly for this lobbyist duo

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If money talks in politics, then the lobbyist team of John Radcliffe and George “Red” Morris can certainly be heard loud and clear in the halls of the State Capitol.

I’ve just started looking at patterns of campaign contributions by lobbyists, and the two principals in Capitol Consultants of Hawaii, LLP stand out from the pack.

Here’s the result of my first quick attempt to follow the money.

The following figures are for calendar year 2012, and do not cover the full 2011-2012 election cycle. They also do not include contributions to federal candidates, parties, or PACs.

During 2012, reports filed with the State Campaign Spending Commission show Radcliffe contributed $57,750 to state and county candidates in Hawaii, while Morris added another $50,300.

Nothing illegal here. These contributions were all properly disclosed and appear to have remained within application limits. But they provide a good example of a particular type of influence combining well-targeted campaign contributions with skilled inside lobbying.

Here are their contributions sorted by date. You can see that while there were quite a few contributions made while the legislature was in session, their checkbooks aren’t put away during the rest of the year.

John Radcliffe

Red Morris

A more complete picture would have to include direct contributions made by their clients, who often rely on the recommendations of their professional lobbyists if/when they give directly to candidates.

It would also be interesting to see which contributions coincided with candidates’ fundraisers, and which were made at other times.

Both those jobs that will have to wait for another day.

Profiling members of the Honolulu Planning Commission

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A recent follow-up post about the Sand Island Business Association prompted a request from a reader: “Can you do [a profile] on the Honolulu Planning Commission? We want to know how did this people get on this powerful board.”

I’m not sure I can fully deliver on this, but I can at least make a down payment.

To do this, I went through the public information statements filed by the members of the Planning Commission when they were nominated. These provide some information on employment history, education, and business ties, if any.

Disclaimer: I haven’t observed the planning commission at work, and this information is not meant as an evaluation of the work of the commission or any of its individual members.

Without further delay, here’s some basic background on the current members of the Honolulu Planning Commission.

Ka’iulani K. Sodaro, Chair

At the time of her appointment in 2011, Sodaro was a planner with Kamehameha Schools with a title dealing with “sustainability.” She previously served as development director for Maui Land and Pine, and a senior project coordinator for Hilton Hotels. She holds a BA in hotel administration and an MA in planning.

Cord Anderson

Operated his own development company (Anekona Real Estate & Development) until 2009. Served as “volunteer staff” for Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz during the 2011 legislative session, where he says he “held discussions with HCDA and private sector developers in order to encourage re-development in urban areas, especially Kakaako Mauka.

Anderson also reports being a shareholder in several companies, including Lanihau Properties, Palani Ranch, CBI Polymers, and Skai Ventures.

Gayle Pingree

Manager for a Makiki Branch of First Hawaiian Bank. A Democrat. Board member, Sacred Hearts Academy.

Rodney Kim

Executive Director, Sand Island Business Association. Also serves as executive director of the Pacific Electrical Contractors Association. Law degree from McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific. Major campaign contributor who says he is a political independent. Between 2009 and 2012, Kim contributed over $37,000 to state and local candidates, including $1,000 to Mufi Hannemann, $3,500 to Kirk Caldwell, $4,000 to John White’s unsuccessful 2010 run for the City Council, and $3,000 to White’s opponent, current Council chair Ernie Martin. The contribution to Martin was made just weeks after the general election. Kim also contributed $5,000 to Mufi Hannemann’s 2012 Congressional campaign. The campaign returned $2,500 following Hannemann’s loss in the primary.

James Pacopac

Pacopac’s background information form was not available via the city’s Docushare system, or at least I couldn’t locate it.

However, Pacopac previously served as “legislative liaison” for the Pacific Resource Partnership, the group related to the Carpenters Union that became notorious for its big money campaign against Ben Cayetano in last year’s Honolulu mayor’s race.

He is a partner with Scott Matsuura in the lobbying firm of SPJ Consulting LLC.

Pacopac was lobbyist for the Honolulu Board of Water Supply until March 2012. He currently is a registered lobbyist for the County of Kauai, the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, and Syngenta Crop Protection of GMO fame.

Arthur Tolentino

Tolentino is business manager & financial secretary-treasurer for the Sheet Metal Workers Union I.A. Local 293. He worked himself up through the union over the past decade, beginning as an organizer in 2002. He reports no other community activities, and identifies himself as a Democrat.

Steven S.C. Lim

Attorney/Partner, Carlsmith Ball LLP.

From his biography on the law firm’s website:

“Real Property Development, Acquisition and Sale Represents developers and major land owners in all phases of project development. Work involves land use entitlements and registration of subdivisions and condominiums, and advising clients on licensing and permitting requirements at the federal, state and local levels. Represents individuals and development entities in the purchase and sale of real property. Performs due diligence on complex real estate purchases, including pre-closing review of title issues and zoning and permit compliance, as well as proposed use reviews.

Shopping Center and Commercial Leasing Represents both landlords and tenants in reviewing financing documentation, drafting master leases, assisting with entitlements, utility permits, conveyancing documentation, condominium and subdivision work. Assist clients with retail leases and general contract negotiations.

Resort, Master Planned Community and Golf Course Development Assists owners and developers with multi-phased resort and golf course development projects. Obtains state and county zoning entitlements, and advises clients on real property, construction and related areas of the law.”

Lim is also active politically, contributing $20,000 to state and local candidates between 2009 and the end of 2012.

Dean Hazama

Hazama is chair of the Mililani Mauka/Launani Valley Neighborhood Board, holds a BA from the University of Hawaii, and is business officer for the Defense Logistics Agency Maritime at Pearl Harbor.

Ethics controversy a standoff between current and former ethics directors

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The State Ethics Commission’s application of key ethics provisions to members of temporary state task forces is again causing headaches.

Civil Beat’s Nathan Eagle described the latest go-around over SB893, which was notable for pitting testimony by former commission director Dan Mollway (who supported the bill) against the commission’s current director, Les Kondo, who strongly opposed the measure.

Click here to read the testimony as submitted.

Mollway says the commission’s interpretation of a key ethics provision is “clearly incorrect” and a “clear misunderstanding” of the law.

In his testimony, Mollway referred to my post here on August 29, 2011 (“Ethics Commission should take a second look at lobbying restriction“), as well as his subsequent comment.

I think Kondo is correct in saying that this legislative intrusion into the commission’s business is a dangerous precedent. However, in this case, I also think the commission has created the problem by staking out an overly broad and controversial position on this issue.

I doubt this is the last we’ll be hearing about this matter.

Hawaii Legislature has changed for the better since 1985

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I ran into this oldie yesterday. It’s a little handout I wrote going into the 1985 legislative session while serving as executive director of Common Cause Hawaii. It describes a number of issues of access and openness that I felt needed to be addressed at the time. It’s just a single sheet of paper, folded so that it formats as four pages. It’s pretty discolored after nearly 30 years.

[text]

Just click on the title graphic to see the full report in pdf format.

In general, things at the legislature are dramatically more open and accessible than they were in 1985.

It’s still interesting to see what has changed and what remains problematic.

The changes.

Access to documents. While it was often difficult to obtain current documents during the session back in 1985, the current capitol website give anyone with a computer quick access to the latest records, including testimony and committee reports, as well as a whole range of reports submitted to the legislature by various agencies. The printshop is no longer a bottleneck slowing public access to documents.

Access to budget. In 1985, the budget was considered confidential, and the public had no access to detailed budget worksheets as legislators negotiated over each line item. Today, the budget and the worksheets are available online.

Neighbor island access. With the ability to access documents via the capitol website, view selected committee hearings live via online streaming, and submit testimony by email, neighbor island residents can track bills and issues as easily as residents of Oahu. It’s a whole new world.

Committees no longer meet in secret. It was common back in the 1980s for the money committees to meet in closed sessions, which were allied “strategy sessions” or “briefings” in an attempt to distinguish them from committee meetings, which are required to be open to the public. This is no longer a routine occurrence.

And things that have not changed.

Arbitrary power of committee chairs, who still have “wide discretion to deny measures a public hearing.

Closed caucuses.

Some documents still not readily available, including proposed amendments to bills.