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The Exchange

by By Anthony Pignataro

December 21, 2006

WHO GAVE: Alexander & Baldwin HI PAC



WHO RECEIVED: Maui County Councilman-elect Mike Victorino



DATE: Nov. 6, 2006



AMOUNT: $1,000



Contributions like this should set off alarm bells for a whole host

of reasons. Like the fact that it came on the very last day of the

campaign. Or that it’s a sizeable amount (boosting the total A&B’s

political action committee gave Victorino during the 2006 campaign to

$2,000) for a candidate who was, at least on paper, an unknown with no

prior County Council service. Or that it’s to a guy who, despite

running against three other guys during the race, had no discernible

opposition whatsoever. Victorino won 15,000 more votes than his closest

competitor in the Primary Election. There was no way he was going to

lose the General—unless of course he was caught instant messaging teens

or using millions in bribes to buy antique toilets, which he wasn’t.

Victorino was popular and extremely well-known, which allowed him to

run an extremely leisurely campaign that didn’t need $1,000 checks a

month before the election, much less hours before it. The only thing

the money’s going to do is sit in Victorino’s bank account ($18,426.35

cash on hand at the end of the election, according to his Dec. 7 filing

with the state) until he runs for re-election in two years. Given the

fact that A&B is a 125-year old company that owns huge quantities

of commercial, agricultural and residential properties around the

state, as well as Matson Navigation, it’s probably smart to watch how

Victorino behaves when matters pertaining to A&B come before the

council.