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The%20Exchange
The Exchange

by By Anthony Pignataro

March 22, 2007





WHO GAVE: Charlie Jencks



WHO RECEIVED: Maui County Council Land Use Committee Vice Chairman Joseph Pontanilla



DATE: Sept. 13, 2006



AMOUNT:  $200



For the longest time I couldn’t figure out why Charlie Jencks’ big

Honua`ula (Wailea 670) project was moving through the county only

slightly faster than a glacier. Years have gone by since Jencks first

proposed building 1,400 homes and at least one 18-hole golf course on

670 acres of Wailea, and yet nothing has happened. The Maui County

Council Land Use Committee took up the matter last week, then tabled

the whole thing for three months, apparently so the councilmembers

could focus their attentions on the proposed county budget. Then it hit

me: Jencks hasn’t been handing out campaign contributions like he

should. Sure, he recently cut a check to Pontanilla, Vice Chairman of

the Land Use Committee, but state campaign finance records show he’s

never given any money to Councilman Mike Molina—the Land Use Committee

Chairman and noted friend to corporate PAC donations. In fact, state

records show that in the last five years Jencks has only given money to

Pontanilla, Councilman Danny Mateo ($200) and County Council Chairman

Riki Hokama ($550). Come on, Charlie! You spent years as the County of

Maui’s Public Works Director. You know how the game is played.