Caldwell Gets Ethics Complaints
UPDATED: Two people argue that itÌýwas improper for the Honolulu mayor to hold a political rally on city property and with city employees.
Two complaints have been filed with theÌýHonolulu Ethics Commission against Mayor Kirk Caldwell.
They concern a political rally held by the mayor on Wednesday afternoonÌýon the grass fronting Honolulu Hale, the dayÌýthat Caldwell filed his re-election papers.
Tim Garry, a retired businessman who is running against Caldwell, and CarrollÌýCox, a government watchdog, charge that it was improper for the mayor to hold the rally on city property and to have city employees involved. Both men were at the campaignÌýevent, and Cox filmed it.
Glenna Wong, a spokesperson for Caldwell’s campaignÌýsaid, “The campaign believesÌýthe complaint is without merit.”
UPDATE:ÌýAndrew Pereira, a spokespersonÌýfor the mayor,Ìýsaid that theÌýemployees who attended the event — which included donning Caldwell campaign T-shirts — used vacation time, while the area where the announcement was held is considered a free-speech zone.
He said, “There is no ethics violation.”
The complainants were not satisfied.
“Why not just have it at his campaign headquarters?” said Garry. “And I want to know how they can document an hour an 20 minutes of vacation time for all those employees. If vacation is part of their compensation, they actually contributed to his campaign.”
Said Cox, “When did they apply for vacation? And did the employees feel they were obligated to take vacation? The concern thatÌýI have is how far the mayor is willing to put the publicÌýinterest behind his political campaign. He could have held this on a Saturday or Sunday or after house.”
