Caldwell Campaign: We May Have Been Duped With Newspaper Ad
A campaign ad in the Star-Advertiser listed “Dennis Francis” — the name of the paper’s publisher — as one of the mayor’s supporters.
The Kirk Caldwell campaign said on Thursday it may have been trickedÌýinto listing the name of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s publisher as one of the people who supports the mayor’s re-election bid.
The campaign told Civil Beat it has apologized to the newspaper’sÌýpresident and publisher, Dennis Francis, after his name showed up inÌýa two-page campaign ad in his own newspaper on Sunday.
CampaignÌýchair Lex SmithÌýsaidÌývolunteers had set up an email system askingÌýpeople to send in names to be included in a list of supporters.
“AÌýfew questionable submissions” were removed from the list before it was published, Smith said. But Francis’ name made it through.
“We condemn anyone who may have intentionally placed a name to embarrass our campaign,” Smith said.
Before the campaign acknowledged an error might have been made, Francis denied that he was one of Caldwell’s supporters.
“Thanks for checking,” he said via email. “I saw that too.”
Initially, Caldwell campaign spokesperson Glenna WongÌýexplained, “There is another Dennis Francis who resides in East Honolulu.”
But Caldwell’s opponent in the mayoral race, Charles Djou, began pushing back on Thursday.
“We found it exceptionally curious to see Dennis Francis’ name on this list,” said Djou.
Djou said he takesÌýFrancis “at his word” that the publisher was not publicly backing the mayor.
But his campaignÌýdid a little digging and found only one person named Dennis Francis who was registered to vote in Hawaii —Ìýthe one from the Star-Advertiser.
“So, if it’s a mistake and it’s not him, then who is it?” Djou asked. “Is this a fictitious person?”
He continued: “And if it is a real person, what is the Kirk Caldwell campaign doing to advertise someone who is not registered to vote in Hawaii? Is that the type of person they think people should look to follow?”
Here’s the full statementÌýSmithÌýreleased on Thursday afternoon:
The outreach to supporters asking them if they wanted their names included in an endorsement ad took place several weeks ago.ÌýCampaign volunteers designed an electronic email program which automatically accepted and uploaded submissions into the document.ÌýThe outreach also included Facebook, where anyone could submit their names.ÌýIt is unfortunate that this system cannot track details of any of the submissions.Ìý The campaign was alerted early Sunday about the name ‘Dennis Francis’, and we deny an intentional claim of his endorsement or support.ÌýQuite the contrary, when his name was pointed out, we apologized to the publisher of the Star-Advertiser for any possible confusion which he graciously accepted.Ìý The volunteers did catch a few questionable submissions and they were deleted.ÌýWe condemn anyone who may have intentionally placed a name to embarrass our campaign.
The Star-Advertiser endorsed Caldwell for the primary, and the newspaper is currently in the process of making endorsements for the general election.
The Star-Advertiser has also received money from the Caldwell’s campaign for advertising — including Sunday’s two-page color spread.
There are now 12 days until Nov. 8.
Get engaged! Join in the discussion of candidates and issues in the 2016 elections in our new Facebook Group, . Connect with others and learn how to get involved in community issues that are central to this year’s elections.
