by Andrew Walden

It wasn't easy to find in the thicket of engineering firms, architects, consultants, and legions of wanna-be rail subcontractors who suddenly became big financial backers of Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann's campaign right about the time he started promoting rail transit, but the first company awarded a rail construction contract--Kiewit Pacific--is indeed represented among Hannemann's contributors.

Hannemann yesterday announced that Kiewit was the low bidder awarded a $480 million design-build contract for the first 6.5 mile section of Honolulu rail transit.

On June 30, 2009 a Kiewit Pacific Senior Vice President forked out $1000 to The Hannemann Committee.  June 30 was the last day of the most recently completed campaign spending reporting period. 

Had the Kiewit contribution been made one day later, it would not have been reported until after December 31, 2009.  This would have created the unfortunate perception that a non-contributing company had been allowed to get in on the action.  Other contractors might have inadvertently been given the idea that they didn't need to pay to play, potentially reducing Hannemann's campaign take as he builds the war-chest he will need to run away from management of his rail scheme and seek the governor's chair.

Fortunately for Hannemann, the word got to Kiewit just in time and his public image has been preserved.

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See link: https://nc.csc.hawaii.gov/CFSPublic/xSA.php?REG_NO=CC10132&RP_ID=106&SAOrder=S4&SAPage=3

RELATED: Good News: A Small Elite No Longer Runs Hawaii

Litigation being prepared: http://www.honolulutraffic.com/