Forward Progress, a Honolulu-based political action committee allowed by law to raise and spend unlimited amounts, has pumped more than $100,000 into a campaign to elect Ron Gonzales for County Council District 9, eclipsing threefold the money he raised on his own. As of Oct. 20, the super PAC has spent more than $1 million in council races on three islands, according to a report filed Monday with the state Campaign Spending Commission. It’s primarily targeting incumbents opposed by its sole supporter, the pro-construction PAC Hawaii Carpenters Market Recovery Program. In the latest report, and in prior reports it amended to add more details after inquiries from the spending commission and West Hawaii Today, Forward Progress reported $97,602 on purchases directly attributed to supporting Gonzales, and another $13,972 in mailers opposing incumbent Kohala Councilwoman Margaret Wille. Other expenditures are listed more generally, and it’s not possible to tie them to a single candidate. In contrast, Gonzales raised $34,723 on his own, and Wille raised $31,539 during the same period. Subscribers follow the link for the full by WHT reporter Nancy Cook Lauer.
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 18:19:41 +0000