Campaign Spending Commission

Campaign Spending Commission Meeting
Leiopapa A Kamehameha Building, Room 204
October 14, 2009
10:00 a.m.

Commissioners Present:
Chair Paul Kuramoto, Vice-Chair Steven Olbrich, Gino Gabrio, Dean Robb
Excused – Michael Weaver

Staff Present:
Barbara Wong, Tony Baldomero, Grant Tanimoto, Ellen Kojima
Deputy Attorney General Russell Suzuki

Call to Order:
Meeting convened at 10:00 a.m. with Chair Kuramoto presiding.

Consideration of Minutes:
Commissioner Gabrio moved to approve the minutes of the September 9, 2009 meeting.  Motion seconded by Commissioner Robb.  Motion carried unanimously.

Old Business:
Rescind Advisory Opinion 98-07
At the September 9, 2009 meeting, Advisory Opinion 09-02 was adopted, and within the opinion it mentioned the rescission of Advisory Opinion 98-07.  To further clarify the intent of the Commission, a motion was made to rescind Advisory Opinion 98-07, which regards qualifying contributions for public funding.

Commissioner Robb moved to rescind Advisory Opinion 98-07.  Motion seconded by Commissioner Gabrio.  Motion carried unanimously.

New Business:
Draft Conciliation Agreement 09-03  In Re the Matter of The Gas Company, LLC
The proposed conciliation agreement has been offered to settle claims by the Commission for matters self-reported by The Gas Company, LLC that it made contributions to various candidate committees while a state and county contractor.  Executive Director Wong recommended deferring the matter until the Commission discusses the attorney general opinion regarding negotiation of fines.

Mr. Brian Kang, Esq., representing The Gas Company, LLC, commented that his client would like to settle the matter.  Also, he commented that conciliation of matters of violations is an efficient way to settle matters with parties that want to conciliate.

Vice-Chair Olbrich moved to take Item No. 5, Executive Session to consult with attorney, before further addressing Item No. 4 (conciliation) and moved to convene an executive session.  Motion seconded by Commissioner Gabrio.  Motion carried unanimously.  Executive Session began at 10:08 a.m.

Public session reconvened – 11:00 a.m.

Chair Kuramoto informed Mr. Kang that the conciliation agreement needs to be revised and discussed with Mr. Kang and that the matter is being deferred until the November meeting.

Next Meeting:
Scheduled for Thursday, November 12, 2009 at 10:00 a.m.

Commissioner Robb moved to adjourn meeting.  Motion seconded by Commissioner Gabrio.  Motion carried unanimously.  Meeting adjourned at 11:05 a.m.