Because of the upcoming special election for the East Honolulu City Council seat, about 250 organizations must file extra campaign finance reports whether or not they have an interest in the race.
The organizations known as noncandidate committees must submit a preliminary special report by April 3, says Kristin E. Izumi-Nitao, executive director of the Hawaii Campaign Spending Commission.
“Even if they don’t care about this race, they have to understand that they have yet another report due,” Izumi-Nitao says. “If they won’t spend or raise more than $1,000, they need to check off a box on their organizational report now.”
The April 13 special election pits former City Councilman Trevor Ozawa against Tommy Waters. Ozawa narrowly outpolled Waters last fall, but the Hawaii Supreme Court ruled that the election was faulty and ordered a revote.
Trevor Ozawa, left, and led Tommy Waters are facing off again April 13.
Courtesy of the candidates
Ozawa had $28,670.94 cash on hand at the end of December, while Waters was $21,237.26 in the red.
Ozawa held a fundraiser last week at a Kaimuki restaurant, 3660 on the Rise, with suggested contributions ranging from $250 to $2,000. Waters held his own fundraiser a couple of days later in downtown Honolulu at the office of attorney Michael Green. The suggested contributions ranged from $100 to $2,000.
The two candidates also need to file new campaign spending reports covering the period from Nov. 7 to April 13.
Waters and Ozawa are scheduled to appear jointly on “Insights on PBS Hawaii” March 14 from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., a live conversation moderated by Yunji de Nies.
Waters spent Wednesday afternoon door-knocking in Kaimuki. He says he has spent every day going house to house, “listening to constituents as well as talking about our shared vision of a more accountable government.”
Ozawa says he has also been knocking on doors, sign-waving and holding coffee get-togethers to get the word out about the election. It’s challenging, he says, because some supporters are still fatigued by the last campaign and discouraged that there will be another one.
The former councilman says he’s motivated but fears a low voter turnout.
“The whole district needs to know, get out and vote, make your voice heard and don’t be discouraged by the result of having the election crossed out last time,” he said.
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