Developers And Labor Unions Are Contributing To Blangiardi’s Reelection Campaign
Rick Blangiardi’s predecessor Kirk Caldwell collected about $204,000 during the same period when he ran for reelection in 2016 — more than double the current mayor’s haul.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi has collected about $90,000 in campaign contributions since the start of the year, bringing his available spending money to about $750,000 as he pursues reelection.
Blangiardi is unopposed so far, though nine other people to possibly run against him. The deadline to file is still about a month away.
Top Blangiardi donors include people from housing and development companies as well as political action committees representing labor unions, according to . They generally donated the limit of $4,000.
Some of these donors include John King, developer of Kapaa Industrial Park in Kailua; Stephen Kelly, president of the Kapolei Properties Division at James Campbell Co.; Lance Parker, executive vice president at Alexander & Baldwin; and Joelle Chiu, senior development director at Ahe Group LLC, which develops affordable housing.
The Plumbers & Pipefitters Political Action Committee and Hawaii Laborers Political Action Committee each also donated the maximum amount.
Two individuals donated over the legal limit, but Blangiardi’s campaign is paying the money back and reported those reimbursements.
Blangiardi received $1,000 from Chip Fletcher, interim dean of the University of Hawaii School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, and $500 from Maile Meyer, founder of Native Books/Na Mea Hawaii.
Blangiardi’s predecessor Kirk Caldwell during the same period when he ran for reelection in 2016, more than double Blangiardi’s haul.
On the City Council side, council member Andria Tupola reported collecting about $3,400 this period. That includes $200 from Zippy’s CEO Jason Higa, $500 from the Hawaii Association of Realtors’ PAC and $250 from the Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association.
Tupola also received $2,000 from Park Hotels & Resorts, and Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Big Island.
Only Blangiardi and Tupola have filed their candidacy paperwork so far, and therefore were the only city candidates required to file campaign finance reports for this period. Those who file later will have to retroactively include this period in their initial campaign finance report.
Other candidates up for reelection include prosecutor Steve Alm and council members Esther Kiaaina, Radiant Cordero and Augie Tulba.
Council member Calvin Say, who had a long career in the Legislature that included a stint as House speaker, has indicated he might not run for reelection. Five people have pulled papers to run for his seat, including current state Rep. Scott Nishimoto.
Candidates must file paperwork by June 4. The next reporting deadline is July 11 and will cover the period from the end of April through the end of June.
