Mayor Billy Kenoi, once considered a bright star in Hawaii politics, is turning out the lights of his campaign organization.
The Hawaii County mayor’s spokesman, Peter Boylan, confirmed he is closing his campaign account, whose funds could have been used for another state or local office. Boylan said Kenoi is not planning to run for any political office after his term ends in 2016.
Kenoi’s account is nearly empty, with just $662.14 left in it, according to the last report he filed, said Campaign Spending Commission Executive Director Kristin Izumo-Nitao.
"If he doesn’t intend to run in any foreseeable election, an option is to terminate their registration with the campaign office," she said. Once the commission approves a termination, "he will no longer have to file reports with us."
Kenoi’s campaign spent $600,000 to defeat Harry Kim in 2012. (Kim spent $20,000.)
The news comes a week before Kenoi must face the county Board of Ethics for his personal use of a county credit card, which he admitted to using for buying a surfboard, paying the tab at two Honolulu hostess bars and his lavish spending on the taxpayers’ dime.
He also faces an investigation by the attorney general’s office into possible criminal charges for misuse of the purchasing card, or pCard.
His decision to shut down the campaign organization surfaced when West Hawaii Today reported Tuesday that Kenoi’s campaign manager, Kimo Alameda, was hired to head the county Office of Aging, starting April 1.
As a two-term mayor, Kenoi also faces term limits, and cannot run again for that office once his term ends in 2016.
Kenoi apologized for his misuse of the pCard, claiming he did it because he had no personal credit card, and reimbursed the county $31,112.59 after spending $129,580.73 on his pCard.
A Kapaau resident filed a complaint with the Ethics Board, and wants to see Kenoi removed from office and jailed for his unauthorized use of the pCard beginning December 2008.
Kenoi declined an interview Tuesday with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.
Kenoi told the Star-Advertiser during the 2012 race against Kim that he had no intention of leaving Hawaii island to run for higher office since it was his home.
