The last half of 2021 was generally a sluggish period for local campaign fundraising, with the exception of two candidates seeking new offices.
Jennifer Kagiwada, the first candidate to announce a run for County Council, has already raised more than $10,000 after opening a campaign account Nov. 23. She’s vying for the open District 2 seat being vacated by the term-limited Hilo Councilman Aaron Chung.
“I’m very grateful and humbled for the outpouring of support this early in the campaign,” Kagiwada said Wednesday. “I feel like my vision connects with the people of Hilo and together as a team we can really make improvements.”
A lot of Kagiwada’s contributions thus far have come from in-kind work for graphic arts and a website. She’s also received $1,000 from former state Sen. Russell Ruderman and $1,000 from the CEO of Hoku Kai Biofuels.
Kagiwada, who serves as legislative assistant to Hamakua Councilwoman Heather Kimball, is District Council Representative for District 1, Precinct 8 for the Hawaii County Democratic Party.
Kohala Councilman Tim Richards, who announced in November he’s planning to forego a final term on the County Council to run for the District 4 Senate seat vacated when the state Reapportionment Commission redrew the boundary lines on the Big Island, raised $6,500 to bring his campaign war chest to $37,469.
Richards, a rancher and large-animal veterinarian, has consistently promoted agricultural, transportation and economic initiatives, and his backers reflect that mix. Kawamata Farms, KK Ranch and Matson Navigation Co. were contributors, as was ARDA ROC-PAC, a timeshare owners’ advocacy group.
“Agriculture is obviously a big part of my platform,” Richards said,”but it’s far more encompassing than that. We’re talking about transportation of durable goods … land management and stewardship, water management and stewardship for the next five generations, the next generation.”
Mayor Mitch Roth, whose term doesn’t end until 2024, received as his sole contribution $2,000 in July from the Committee to Expand the Middle Class, a committee sponsored by vacation-rental hosting platform Airbnb Inc.
The county administration is currently working with County Council members to craft legislation tightening up the mechanisms for both hosted and unhosted short-term vacation rentals, Roth said Wednesday. He said campaign contributions don’t influence county policy.
“Campaign finance and what happens there plays no part in this,” Roth said.
The mayor is hoping new laws will make it easier to police rentals in nonconforming areas to help increase the longterm rental and home ownership opportunities for locals.
“Our No. 1 goal is putting local people in homes,” Roth said.
At least five members of Roth’s administration — Executive Assistant Jane Clement, Public Works Director Ikaika Rodenhurst, Highways Division Chief Neil Azevedo, Deputy Corporation Counsel J Yoshimoto and Planner Bethany Morris — have open campaign accounts but none collected outside money during the last six months of 2021, according to reports filed by the Jan. 31 deadline with the state Campaign Spending Commission.
Few County Council members collected much money either, although all seats are up for election this year.
Hilo Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy reported a total of $1,250 from three sources: Orma Nevada Inc., THY &Assocs and ARDA ROC-PAC. Kona Councilwoman Rebecca Villegas received $500 from Ruderman, Puna Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz received $500 and Kimball received $325 from individuals.
Chung, North Kona Councilman Holeka Inaba, South Kona/Ka‘u Councilwoman Maile David and Puna Councilman Matt Kanealii-Kleinfelder reported no outside contributions.