Campaign Spending Commission

Campaign Spending Commission Meeting
In-Person & Zoom Video Conference
September 10, 2025
10:00 a.m.

Commissioners Present
David Chee, Danton Wong, Jon Itomura, Barbara Polk

Commissioner Excused
Neal Herbert

Staff Present
Kristin E. Izumi-Nitao, Tony Baldomero, Kristie Chang, Terence Lau (Via Zoom), Anthony Diep

Deputy Attorney General
Candace Park (Via Zoom)

Deputy Solicitor General
Ewan Rayner (Via Zoom)

Guest(s)
Mark Ladao (Via Zoom), Blaze Lovell (Via Zoom), Sheila Medeiros (Via Zoom), Caroline Nascimento (Via Zoom), Nancy Valdez (Via Zoom)

Call to Order
Chair Chee called the meeting to order at 10:06 a.m.

Chair Chee went over the procedures for the hybrid in-person and remote meeting via Zoom and introduced the Commissioners and Commission staff who were present.  He stated that Vice-Chair Herbert was excused from today’s meeting.

Consideration and Approval of Minutes of Meeting on 6/18/25
Commissioner Wong moved to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 6/18/25.  Motion seconded by Commissioner Polk.  Motion carried (4-0).

New Business
*Presentation, Discussion, and Approval of the Commission’s Annual Report for FY 2025 – Executive Director Izumi-Nitao presented the proposed draft of the Commission’s Annual Report for FY 2025 which discussed Commission activities covering the period 7/1/24 to 6/30/25 as applied to the Commission’s Strategic Plan. She commented that upon approval, the annual report will be posted on the Commission’s website.

Commissioner Polk was concerned with the 112 late or unfiled reports violations as reported by Executive Director Izumi-Nitao, because she recalled the number of committees failing to file the “Late Contributions Report” being much smaller.  Associate Director Baldomero clarified that Commissioner Polk’s recollection regarding the “Late Contributions Report” is correct, and that the 112 late or unfiled reports violations also include the “Disclosure Reports” and not just the “Late Contributions Report.”  He stated that there were only four “Late Contributions Report” violations.

Commissioner Wong asked about the percentage of Paypal fees that the Commission is absorbing to allow committees to make payment online.  Associate Director Baldomero stated that it is 3.49% of the total payment plus $0.49 per transaction.  He added that the amount is minimal enough for the Commission to absorb it at this time, but that staff is monitoring the fees, and if it becomes too high then the Commission will consider its alternatives, including passing it on to the payers.

Commissioner Itomura asked if the Paypal fees are budgeted into the Commission’s expenses.  Associate Director Baldomero confirmed that it is.

Executive Director Izumi-Nitao stated that prior to the implementation of Paypal, the Commission could only accept cash and check payments.  The Paypal option expedites the collection process and encourages committees to make payments sooner.  Associate Director Baldomero added that approximately 90% of fine and escheat payments are made using Paypal.  Commissioner Wong asked that staff continue to monitor the fees that the Commission is absorbing on behalf of the committees.

Commissioner Polk moved to approve the FY 2025 Annual Report.  Motion seconded by Commissioner Itomura.  Motion carried (4-0).

Report from Executive Director
*Report on Compliance of Filing Timely Disclosure Reports – Executive Director Izumi-Nitao reported that since the last Commission meeting in June, there was a Supplemental Report due on 7/31/25 for all 431 candidate committees and 252 noncandidate committees that are registered with the Commission.  The report covers the period of January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025.  She reported the following:

• 431 candidates committees were required to file this report.
  • 388 filed on time (90%)
  • 39 failed to file
  • 4 filed late
  • As of today, 11 have yet to file, but these committees have been referred to the Department of the Attorney General’s Civil Recoveries Division for collections in prior cases.
• 252 noncandidates committees were required to file this report.
  • 245 filed on time (97%)
  • 7 failed to file
  • As of today, 2 have yet to file, but these committees have been referred to the Department of the Attorney General’s Civil Recoveries Division for collections in prior cases.

Executive Director Izumi-Nitao reported that she and General Counsel Chang will begin working more closely with the Department of the Attorney General’s Civil Recoveries Division to address the outstanding referrals.

*Update on Acquiring a New Electronic Filing System – Associate Director Baldomero reported that the goal is to modernize the system as the current one has been in existence since 2008.  He presented the project timeline that summarizes the planning, seeking of approvals and the procurement processes.  He continued to discuss the various phases of development that consist of planning, configuration, testing and implementation that will span from project kickoff on September 16, 2025 to November of 2026, and the system going live for the 2028 election.  He further noted that the Commission was appropriated $2 million dollars in its current fiscal year (FY26) budget, and the negotiated contract is $1.8 million.  The Commission will have funds to explore other enhancements and have a contingency budget for any legislative changes that will require modification to the system, such as Act 187, which requires the Commission to remove protected personal information of certain branches of government personnel from reports filed by candidate and noncandidate committees upon request from those government branches.

*Update on Additional Personnel – Executive Director Izumi-Nitao reported that staff has begun the process to add an Elections Assistant and a CSC Investigator.  She explained that the process involves a number of steps that require the approval and support of various offices, such as meeting with Department of Accounting and General Services’ Administrative Services Office and Personnel Office to seek advice, submitting reorganizational memo and functional statements that needs to be approved by the Comptroller, request to fill and establish new positions that require approval by the Governor, and finally seek approvals on position exemptions and descriptions from Department of Human Resources Development.  She added that staff is targeting January 2026 to begin the hiring process.

Executive Session
Chair Chee moved to go into Executive Session Pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes section 92-5(a)(4) – Consultation with the Commission’s attorneys on questions and issues pertaining to the Commission’s powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities concerning The Babylon Bee, LLC and Dawn O’Brien vs. Anne E. Lopez et al, Civil No. CV25-00234 HG-KJM, filed on 6/4/25.  Motion seconded by Commissioner Itomura.  Motion carried (4-0).

*Commission went into Executive Session at 11:04 a.m.

*Commission returned into public session at 11:47 a.m.

Chair Chee stated that the Commission was in Executive Session with its attorney to discuss issues pertaining to the Commission’s powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities concerning The Babylon Bee, LLC and Dawn O’Brien vs. Anne E. Lopez et al, Civil No. CV25-00234 HG-KJM, and was briefed on the current status of the case.

There being no further business, Chair Chee stated that the Commission’s next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 8, 2025 and asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting.

Commissioner Wong moved to adjourn the meeting.  Motion seconded by Commissioner Polk.  Motion carried (4-0).

Meeting Adjourned at 11:49 a.m.