Success for Hawaii Family Advocates 

From Hawaii Family Forum November 23, 2012 

Hawaii Family Advocates proved that database electioneering tools actually work here in Hawaii! By patiently educating legislators and the public concerning the issues about which we care so deeply, we seek to transform the state legislature to better reflect our shared values.  Your prayers and financial support will help us accomplish this worthy goal.

Beginning this past summer, HFA raised $8,000.00 in donations. A portion of these donations were devoted to educating voters in state House races. While we hope to raise many times that amount in the future, the money we did raise ultimately enabled HFA to work on educating voters regarding the values of two candidates running in House District 36 (Mililani-Mililani Mauka)  

The incumbent representative, Marilyn Lee, had been a long-time House member and a member of a group of legislators that had consistently supported gay rights, abortion rights, forcing hospitals to dispense abortifacients, taxpayer funding of abortion, transgender issues, and other policies with which HFA disagrees. 

HFA mailed four, two-sided, 6 x 11 inch, color post cards in the last three weeks before the election to voters in HD 36.  Before the first mailer, experienced political observers like the Star-Advertiser’s Derrick DePledge were predicting Marilyn Lee’s re-election.  The first mailer compared the candidates’ positions on traditional marriage and pointed out that Beth Fukumoto shared our values. The second mailer addressed their positions on religious liberty.  The third addressed their positions on fiscal issues.  The fourth, delivered on November 3rd, reiterated the prior three issues on one side, and reported on Marilyn’s Lee’s heavy support by special interests based on her Campaign Spending Commission reports from January of 2011 through October 29, 2012.

At the same time that HFA was mailing the last three cards, Marilyn Lee spent $15,000 on trying to rebut them.  That was more than three times the HFA war chest used during that same time period.  Marilyn Lee’s campaign had the support of major political action committees as well, which means HFA was far outspent.  On election day, Beth Fukumoto won with 52% of the vote.  In total, Beth Fukumoto received nearly 500 more votes than the long-time, incumbent Marilyn Lee.  In another House race in a newly-drawn neighboring district without an incumbent, Lauren Cheape won by a mere 85 votes.  HFA’s victory in HD 36 was truly a remarkable success. 

HFA is a 501(C)(4) social action charity under the federal tax code, and an independent expenditure non-candidate committee under state law. As an independent expenditure non-candidate committee, HFA cannot coordinate with candidates or parties. As a C4, it is tax exempt, but unlike Hawaii Family Forum, donations to it are not tax deductible to the contributor.  HFA and HFF are affiliated organizations that work together in many ways in putting on community education efforts.  (Click here for more information about HFA).

If you believe that change can and must happen, then join us by partnering with us.  Click here for more information on how you can stand with Hawaii Family Advocates moving forward.

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Disclaimer:  Hawaii Family Forum (c)(3) did not participate or engage in the events in the following story and is simply reporting Hawaii Family Advocate’s (c)(4) account as an educational effort jointly engaged in by Hawaii Family Forum and Hawaii Family Advocates.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jim Hochberg, President Hawaii Family Advocates

Suite 1201, Fort Street Tower, 745 Fort Street Mall, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813?

Phone: 808-534-1514 / 808-538-3075

www.hawaiifamilyadvocates.org