Caldwell Raising Money For Carlisle Rematch
UPDATED 5 p.m.
Former Acting Mayor Kirk Caldwell is holding a fundraiser in two weeks and intends to challenge Peter Carlisle for mayor in 2012, Civil Beat has learned.
The race would be a rematch of the close fight for mayor last year. That special election victory gave Carlisle, the longtime city prosecutor, the right to finish the final two years of the term of Mufi Hannemann, who resigned to run for governor.
There has been no formal campaign announcement. But Caldwell last week filed a to hold a $1,000-per-head fundraiser Nov. 17 at Michel’s at the Colony Surf.
Voicemails, an email and a text message sent to Caldwell were not immediately returned. A receptionist at Caldwell’s law firm, Ashford and Wriston, said he’s out on vacation this week and is out of the state, but will return Monday.
It’s possible, of course, that Caldwell is merely trying to raise money to pay off his from the last fight. But one person close to Caldwell, while not expressly confirming a new run, made clear paying off old debts is not what’s going on.
Asked to confirm that Caldwell is running for mayor in 2012, Lex Smith told Civil Beat, “I am not ready to do that today.”
“I guess I don’t know that for certain, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that were true,” Smith said. “I think he’ll make an announcement before too long.
“If Kirk announces that he’s running and if he asks me to be his campaign chair, I will certainly do that,” he said. “I am aware of the filing and of the fundraiser, and I intend to attend the fundraiser.”
Lani Parry, who is listed as the person in charge of the fundraiser, told Civil Beat she’s “coordinating parts” of the event. Asked for details on the campaign, she said, “I’m not a spokesperson for the campaign and I don’t know that I should be the one to make the statement.”
Laurie Choy, who was listed as Caldwell’s treasurer as of the most recent organizational filing, said she was “not at liberty” to discuss the campaign.
In 2010, Caldwell got a late start but surged at the end to almost catch Carlisle. Carlisle won with 80,553 votes, or 38.8 percent. Caldwell got 71,815 votes, or 34.6 percent.
In their first matchup, Carlisle was seen as the alternative to a continuation of the Hannemann line. The connection with Hannemann — who lost badly in the Democratic primary for governor — might have been a liability for Caldwell, who served as managing director and was termed by some a “Mini Mufi.”
Carlisle promised he’d get the city’s fiscal house in order and let some supporters believe he’d take a close look at the Honolulu rail project. But after taking office, Carlisle kept in his Cabinet many of the same leaders who had implemented Hannemann’s vision. He immediately traveled to Washington D.C. to reassure federal officials that Honolulu Hale stood fully behind rail.
So it might be tough for Caldwell to distinguish himself from Carlisle on the major issues. And Carlisle now has the power of the incumbency and the fundraising prowess that comes with it. Yet Carlisle’s approval numbers remain in the 30s and a full quarter of likely voters have yet to form an opinion about his job performance, according to The Civil Beat Poll.
“We anticipated (a challenge from Caldwell) and Peter has made it abundantly clear that he’s running for re-election,” Carlisle Campaign manager Cha Thompson told Civil Beat Thursday. “As far as Peter is concerned, the budget will continue to be a priority for his administration.”
Thompson said she anticipates other candidates might jump in the race, “but I think Kirk is the real serious one.” She said Carlisle is considering holding another fundraiser so he can keep pace in terms of campaign money.
Panos Prevedouros might provide an alternative for voters who want an anti-rail mayor. Prevedouros finished third in 2010 and has said he will run again in 2012. Then there’s Hawaii Sen. Clayton Hee, who has expressed skepticism about rail and development and has been rumored as a potential mayoral candidate after an impressive fundraising haul.
Honolulu City Council Chair Ernie Martin recently told Civil Beat he’ll “definitely” run for mayor someday — but not necessarily in 2012.
The non-partisan primary will be held Aug. 11, 2012.
