Mayor questions PAC contributions

HONOLULU — Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. held a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the State Capitol to address the influx of millions of dollars in super PAC money pumped into the race for lieutenant governor.

“I called this press conference today because I believe in the power of aloha first and foremost and I believe in the power of each individual vote,” Carvalho said. “Over the last weeks, there’s been a large number of people — statewide — who have pulled me aside, called me, reached out to people in our campaign in reaction to all the recent news regarding super PACs.”

With four days until the primary, Carvalho stressed the importance of voter participation.

“The people of Hawaii want a leader they can trust,” he said.

Carvalho pledged to make the lieutenant governor’s office the people’s office through transparency and accountability.

“My office will publish a quarterly ‘progress report’ online that identifies each project — whether ongoing or complete,” Carvalho said. “This progress report will detail the specific initiative, agencies involved and current status of projects related to homelessness, affordable housing, emergency preparedness, education, workforce development and whatever else the governor would want me to take on.”

Carvalho said he has never accepted super PAC money and said it’s not illegal to accept it, either.

“But I think it’s important for people to ask questions. Where is this money coming from?” he said. “Why is so much money going to one candidate over another? The people of Hawaii need to ask questions and do their homework because their vote counts.”