HILO —A nascent Kailua-Kona TV station has suspended a weekly show starring Mayor Billy Kenoi until after the elections, following questions by West Hawaii Today about whether other mayoral candidates would get equal time.
KLEI-TV was, however, still advertising “The Mayor’s Corner” with Kenoi’s picture on its website Friday.
The TV station, channel 6, digital channel 25, owned by Mauna Kea Broadcasting Co. Inc., changed hands in December. Shows include those catering to Filipino, Latino, Native American and Native Hawaiian communities.
Owner Chris Racine told West Hawaii Today on Thursday that “The Mayor’s Corner ” has yet to air. He said to his knowledge there hasn’t even been any production work on it.
“I’m not giving anybody time,” Racine said.
But a YouTube video posted March 15 by the station shows a five-minute segment of Kenoi on the set, touting his accomplishments as mayor. The segment became password-protected and unavailable to the public Friday afternoon.
Federal Communications Commission rules state, as a condition of an FCC license, “If any licensee shall permit any person who is a legally qualified candidate for any public office to use a broadcasting station, he shall afford equal opportunities to all other such candidates for that office in the use of such broadcasting station,” except in cases of bona fide newscasts, news interviews, news documentary or on-the-spot coverage of a bona fide news event.
Racine said “The Mayor’s Corner” is not meant to be a campaign stop, but a way for elected officials to interact with the public. He’s well aware of the FCC regulations, he said. He said he’d love to showcase some political debates during the election season as a way for the public to get a better idea of candidates’ platforms.
“It’s not going to be a promo for Billy Kenoi,” Racine said. “I don’t know the mayor; I’ve never even met him.”
Kenoi said the station manager approached him about doing the show; it wasn’t his idea. He has no problem with it suspended until after the election, he said.
“It was their initiative, and I agreed to do a show when I was able at no cost to the county,” Kenoi said.
Kenoi in October 2010 had started a 30-minute program, “This week with Mayor Billy Kenoi ,” on Na Leo O Hawaii TV channel 53, but a spokeswoman at the public access television station said last month the show hasn’t run in about a year. The Mayor’s Office had bought $5,594 worth of video production equipment and hired a videographer on a $15,000 89-day contract before beginning the show.
Racine said his station is currently working on satellite links and should be “up and flying” by next week. In the meantime, shows are aired on the website www.klei.tv.
