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Jeremy in the Spotlight A Small Sample of Telling Harris Headlines Mayor Harris will not run for governor Rick Daysog, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, May 30, 2002 Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris announced today he will not seek the Democratic nomination for governor, a political bombshell that will shake up this year�s gubernatorial and mayoral races. Harris drops out of governor's race Ben DiPietro and Debbie Sokei, Pacific Business News, May 30, 2002 Democrat Mayor Jeremy Harris abandoned the race for governor Thursday, saying internal polls showed he had no chance of beating Republican Linda Lingle in the November general election. Harris Drops Out Of Race For Governor Brent Suyama, Staff Writer, TheHawaiiChannel.com, May 30, 2002 Harris said that he wanted to make the decision before this weekend's Democratic Party meetings. He said that his campaign had found that he had fallen 22 points behind Republican candidate Linda Lingle. Mayor Harris withdraws from governor's race Johnny Brannon, The Honolulu Advertiser, May 30, 2002 In a stunning move that changes Hawai'i's elections landscape, Mayor Jeremy Harris announced today that he will drop out of the race for governor. Companies agree to pay fines for exceeding donation limit Kevin Dayton, The Honolulu Advertiser, May 17, 2002 The Campaign Spending Commission formally approved fines yesterday for a landscape architectural firm and an engineering firm for donating too much money to Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris and other elected officials. Harris' fund told to give up excess $98,500 Robbie Dingeman, The Honolulu Advertiser, May 1, 2002 The state Campaign Spending Commission has notified Mayor Jeremy Harris' campaign that it must give up $98,500 in excess contributions identified over the past year, commission executive director Robert Watada said yesterday. Judge refuses to stop investigation of Harris fund-raising Rick Daysog, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, March 30, 2002 A federal judge has refused to stop a state Campaign Spending Commission investigation into Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris' fund raising for the Democratic National Committee. In a 27-page order filed yesterday, U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway denied a request by the Harris campaign and the national committee for a preliminary injunction against the commission, saying the issue was moot at this point. Mayor sticks to campaign halt Helen Altonn, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, March 17, 2002 Mayor Jeremy Harris, speaking at a blessing ceremony for the new Waipahu Gym and Recreation Center, confined his remarks to the "beautiful facility" and cooperation of many to get it built. The words "campaign for governor" didn't come up. Harris appeals ruling that he should have resigned David Waite, The Honolulu Advertiser, March 15, 2002 As expected, an attorney for Mayor Jeremy Harris yesterday afternoon filed an appeal of a ruling Monday that Harris should have resigned on May 15, 2001, when he filed papers indicating his plans to run for governor this fall. Pace of Harris appeal unclear David Waite, The Honolulu Advertiser, March 14, 2002 Just how quickly the Hawai'i Supreme Court will take up a Circuit Court judge's ruling that stopped Mayor Jeremy Harris' gubernatorial campaign dead in its tracks on Monday will depend on how quickly lawyers for the two sides can get ready for the high court showdown. Harris cools campaign pending court appeal Gordon Y.K. Pang, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, March 13, 2002 The Hawaii Supreme Court will decide if Mayor Jeremy Harris must resign before proceeding with his gubernatorial candidacy because of a resign-to-run constitutional amendment that its authors acknowledge is vaguely worded. Harris, considered the top Democratic contender for governor this fall, announced yesterday that he is suspending his campaign pending appeal of Circuit Judge Sabrina McKenna's decision on Monday that he could not hold office and be a candidate. Harris freezes campaign Kevin Dayton, The Honolulu Advertiser, March 13, 2002 Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris suspended all campaign activity yesterday while he appeals a court ruling that declared it illegal for him to serve as mayor and campaign for governor at the same time. In a press conference on the steps of Honolulu Hale, Harris said he will close and lock his Ward Warehouse campaign headquarters, and won't raise or spend any more money on the governor's race until the issue is resolved. Harris to appeal, campaign on hold Mary Adamski, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, March 12, 2002 Mayor Jeremy Harris says he will appeal a judge's decision that he should resign his office because he is running for governor. In the meantime, Harris said he will suspend all campaign activities until an expedited appeal is heard by the Hawaii Supreme Court. Harris Suspends Campaign For Governor TheHawaiiChannel.com, March 12, 2002 Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris said Tuesday that he will not step down, but will suspend his campaign for governor. Harris must resign to run for governor, judge rules Kevin Dayton and David Waite, The Honolulu Advertiser, March 12, 2002 Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris' campaign for governor suffered yet another shock yesterday when a Circuit Court Judge ruled Harris must resign as mayor to continue his run for governor. In a decision that startled some experienced politicians, Circuit Judge Sabrina McKenna ruled yesterday that Harris should have resigned as mayor before he filed organizational papers for his new campaign on May 15 last year. Kobayashi slams Harris budget Gordon Y.K. Pang, The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, March 12, 2002 City Council Budget Chairwoman Ann Kobayashi and her colleagues are making it clear to Mayor Jeremy Harris that his last go-around with the budget will not be his easiest. On the first day of the budget season yesterday, Kobayashi and her committee ripped the administration for attempting to balance the city's $1.2 billion budget by "raiding" $60 million from the sewer fund and refinancing bonds that will extend existing debt into later years. Judge: Harris Must Resign To Run For Governor TheHawaiiChannel.com, March 11, 2002 A Circuit Court judge ruled Monday that Jeremy Harris must resign from his post as Honolulu Mayor if he wants to keep running for governor. The judge did not order the mayor to give up the office immediately, although she said he should have resigned last year when he made it clear he was running. Council questions size of Harris budget Gordon Y.K. Pang, The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, March 2, 2002 Next year's $475.5 million capital improvements budget offered by Mayor Jeremy Harris is drawing some questions from City Council members even though it is $103 million less than the one approved for the current year. "I'm worried about expenditures and debt service," new Budget Chairwoman Ann Kobayashi said. "How are we paying, that's what worries me." Harris Favorability Sinking TheHawaiiChannel.com, February 6, 2002 KITV 4 News and the Honolulu Star Bulletin's poll found that Jeremy Harris may have been hurt by allegations of improper fund raising during his 2000 mayoral campaign. From the last joint poll in May, to the newest poll, Harris' favorable numbers have dropped 7 percent, while his unfavorable rating went up. Harris Faces Another Campaign Probe TheHawaiiChannel.com, February 6, 2002 The head of the Campaign Spending Commission has filed another complaint against the campaign of Mayor Jeremy Harris. This complaint is over tens of thousands of dollars worth of what investigators said are improper expenses by the campaign, among other things. Harris says own party is to blame for investigation Robbie Dingeman, The Honolulu Advertiser, January 20, 2002 Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris said he believes members of his own party are aggressively pushing the investigation into his campaign fund-raising in "an effort to knock me out because they don't like my brand of Democratic politics." Mayor hires outside auditors Robbie Dingeman, The Honolulu Advertiser, January 20, 2002 Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris said yesterday he has hired an independent accounting firm to audit all of his campaign finances, including spending records that are the subject of an investigation referred last week to city prosecutors. Carlisle demands Harris records Rick Daysog, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 19, 2002 City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle has subpoenaed records from Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris' political campaign and the state Campaign Spending Commission. The subpoenas are the first in Carlisle's investigation into Harris' campaign and come three days after his office received a referral from the Campaign Spending Commission for a criminal investigation of the Harris campaign. ANALYSIS: Campaign faces storm that may defy 'spin' Kevin Dayton, The Honolulu Advertiser, January 16, 2002 Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris is all about controlling the message. He insists on it, and at times has shouted at his staff in frustration when he couldn't get a story out his way. Yesterday, the story of a criminal investigation into alleged campaign spending law violations by Harris' 2000 mayoral campaign veered wildly, alarmingly out of his control. Political races revolve on Harris fund probe Rod Antone, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 16, 2002 Whatever happens to Mayor Jeremy Harris in the coming months could have an effect on those running in the governor's race and the race for Honolulu mayor. Even if an investigation should prove Harris innocent, or prosecutors refuse to take the case, the mayor's opponents say the controversy surrounding the situation will likely take its toll. FBI joins Harris campaign probe Rick Daysog, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 16, 2002 Federal investigators have joined city Prosecutor Peter Carlisle's investigation into Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris' political campaign, in a move that could have a major impact on this year's gubernatorial elections. Harris campaign probe goes to city prosecutor Johnny Brannon, The Honolulu Advertiser, January 16, 2002 The state Campaign Spending Commission voted yesterday to request a criminal investigation of Mayor Jeremy Harris and three leaders of his 2000 re-election campaign, despite heated protests that the panel had produced no evidence of wrongdoing. Harris Case To Become Federal Probe TheHawaiiChannel.com, January 15, 2002 The state Campaign Spending Commission voted Tuesday afternoon to refer its complaint against Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris's 2000 campaign to the city prosecutor's office. Commission executive director Bob Watada contends Harris' 2000 campaign for mayor intentionally took contributions and booked them under false names. Commission recommends mayor be prosecuted Ben DiPietro, Pacific Business News, January 15, 2002 It's up to Prosecutor Peter Carlisle to decide whether to seek criminal charges against Mayor Jeremy Harris after the state Campaign Spending Commission filed a complaint alleging fund-raising violations. The Harris campaign listed as contributors people who did not give money to the campaign and who did not know they were being listed as donors, including children, the complaint alleged. Complaint slams Harris� money Rick Daysog, The Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 14, 2002 The head of the state Campaign Spending Commission is alleging that Mayor Jeremy Harris's campaign improperly laundered political contributions. In an eight-page complaint, executive director Bob Watada said that the Harris 2000 campaign intentionally took contributions and booked them under false names. Harris Campaign Faces Prosecution TheHawaiiChannel.com, January 14, 2002 The State Campaign Spending Commission accused Jeremy Harris' mayoral campaign Monday of knowingly providing misleading information about its donors. The commission is expected to vote Tuesday to turn Harris' case over to city prosecutors for criminal prosecution. Harris campaign takes another hit Johnny Brannon, The Honolulu Advertiser, January 7, 2002 Jeremy Harris, already at odds with the state Campaign Spending Commission, may face a new obstacle over how much money his most reliable donors can contribute to his gubernatorial campaign. Suit asks removal of mayor if he�s campaigning Bruce Dunford, Associated Press, January 4, 2002 Former judge and state lawmaker Russell Blair filed a lawsuit yesterday seeking immediate removal of Mayor Jeremy Harris from office if he continues campaigning for governor. Blair contends a 1978 amendment to the state Constitution -- requiring office-holders to resign when they become a candidate for another office with an overlapping term -- is triggered when the office-holder files an organizational report with the state Campaign Spending Commission. Suit Filed to Force Harris from Office TheHawaiiChannel.com, January 3, 2002 Former state senator and judge Russell Blair filed suit Thursday hoping to force Jeremy Harris to resign as Honolulu mayor or stop running for governor. In his lawsuit, Blair claims that Harris violated the state constitution when he filed campaign organization papers with the Campaign Spending Commission just 18 weeks into his term as mayor. Harris Contributors Hit with Fines The Hawaii Channel/KITV, November 21, 2001 The state Campaign Spending Commission Wednesday imposed its largest fine ever on a business for an illegal campaign donation. Waikiki restaurant owner Alan Ho and his business partners agreed to pay the fine for making excessive donations to Jeremy Harris's mayoral campaigns. Former judge calls for Harris to resign now Richard Borreca, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, November 7, 2001 Russell Blair, a former District Court judge and state legislator, contends that Mayor Jeremy Harris is required to resign now since he has declared his candidacy for governor. Harris campaign under investigation The Hawaii Channel/KITV, September 7, 2001 Some donors who gave money to Mayor Jeremy Harris' campaign are under investigation, KITV4 News city reporter Keoki Kerr has learned. The State Campaign Spending Commission is looking into thousands of dollars given by employees of companies that get lucrative city contracts, and their relatives. City taxpayers foot TV bill as mayor pitches Vision theme Robbie Dingeman, The Honolulu Advertiser, August 3, 2001 Taxpayers paid $21,000 to air a 30-minute video featuring Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris inviting O'ahu residents to the Second Regional Islandwide Vision Meeting tomorrow at the Hawai'i Convention Center. Harris to run for gov Gordon Y.K. Pang and Rosemarie Bernardo, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, April 11, 2001 The speculation is over: Mayor Jeremy Harris will resign to run for governor next year. Hannemann attacks Harris over 'Ewa case Robbie Dingeman, The Honolulu Advertiser, September 21, 2000 Well behind in polls and faced with the possibility that his race for mayor of Honolulu could end with Saturday�s primary election, Mufi Hannemann yesterday aggressively raised the profile of his campaign by attacking Mayor Jeremy Harris on his handling of the �Ewa Villages scandal. Fasi says city debt increased by $1 bil under Harris Gordon Y.K. Pang, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, September 6, 2000 Former Mayor Frank Fasi says successor Jeremy Harris has increased the city's debt by as much as $1 billion during the past two years. Mayor, challengers trade blame for 'Ewa scandal Robbie Dingeman, August 3, 2000 Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris and his top two challengers in the upcoming election agree on one part of their reaction to guilty verdicts for former city employee Michael Kahapea: ultimate responsibility for the �Ewa Villages project rests with the mayor. Fasi slams Harris after private firms pay for TheBus luau Gordon Y.K. Pang, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, May 4, 2000 Opponents of Mayor Jeremy Harris say he should get City Council approval whenever a private business is asked to contribute gifts to the city. Former Mayor Frank Fasi criticized his successor yesterday for asking a Canadian-based bus company, New Flyer Industries, to pick up the tab for a $9,000 luau for Waianae residents over the weekend to usher in the city's CountryExpress! bus service. Fasi questions why city let bus firm pay for luau Robbie Dingeman, The Honolulu Advertiser, May 4, 2000 Former Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi is questioning why city officials arranged for a Canada-based bus company to spend nearly $9,000 on a weekend celebration in Waianae that the city promoted to kick off its new CountryExpress! bus service.