Super PAC Money Targets Oahu and Hawaii County Races

Updated August 2, originally published June 30.

To quote the great political philosopher Cyndi Lauper, “Money changes everything.”

For the last 50 years the American political landscape has been guided by one basic rule: raise and spend as much money as possible during any given race in order to win.  The more dollars raised and spent on an individual race, the greater the chances for victory – in modern politics money has become a crucial determinant of whether or not a candidate will win. However, the currency of victory is not entirely measured in the amount of money raised and spent, rather how it’s spent to promote, influence, and otherwise motivate the public to vote for a specific candidate or ballot measure.

Civil Beat reported this week that Hawaii, even with its remote location, is not exempt from the political infection and influence pedaling effects of Political Action Committee money.  The PAC’s can receive and spend unlimited amounts of money to support or oppose any candidate, so long as they don’t coordinate with the person running for office, and they …“are hitting airwaves and mailboxes as voters cast their mail-in ballots, which went out statewide last week.”  https://www.civilbeat.org/2020/07/new-super-pacs-pour-money-into-honolulu-races/

All politics are local … but are they really?

The former U.S. Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill coined the phrase “All politics are local” which encapsulates the principle that a politician’s success is directly tied to his ability to understand and influence the issues of his or her constituents. In other words, politicians must appeal to the simple, mundane and everyday concerns of those who elect them into office.  Those personal issues, rather than big and intangible ideas, are often what voters care most about, according to this principle.

Too often today’s candidates, backed by money interests with a stake in a race have an agenda and mask their goals through a local candidate, in a local race. Also addressing local community priorities may take a backseat to a hidden agenda – but that’s today’s political system.  Is it nefarious or illegal, it depends on your point of view and various election laws, but generally the answer is no.  Is it right, the answer is also no.  But today’s voters must be well informed, not mind-controlled, and do their homework in order to make intellect choices which serve their interests and those of the community.  In short, it’s voter beware and be informed, before marking and mailing in your ballot.

Follow the Money, Hawaii County 

The famous political adage from the presidential Watergate scandal, “… follow the money” offers a modern day tale of David and Goliath now unfolding in Hawaii County’s District 7 council race.  Here is an example of what should have been a local race in the tradition of Hawaii politics, but has been transformed by outside money and influence.  It is the current Hawaii County council race between incumbent candidate, Rebecca Villegas, and her challenger and first time candidate, Jane Clement.

Most voters are aware of the billions of dollars now spent in each new presidential and federal election cycle, sums far greater than any state or down-ticket election. The further you go down ticket and into local races the closer politics begin to resemble a time past, with political races were built on the individual efforts of candidates with modest budgets and fully engaged in home grown politicking.

Candidate Clement’s until recently, was an employee of Seattle-based Strategies 360, although the company to list Jane Clement on their webs site:  https://strategies360.ca/team/jane-clement/.  The extent of  money and power of Strategies 360 financial support of candidacy is a mater of record and on display in two direct campaign contributions totally $4,000 and additional PAC money funneled through Be Change Now.

Civil Beat reported earlier this week that the Strategies 360 and through its client PAC, Be Change Now, has so far spent $78,000 in support of Clement (an unprecedented amount of money for Hawaii County Council seat).

Strategies 360 is an accomplished and powerful firm with one primary mission: influence political outcomes, be it candidate, ballot initiatives, or referendum.  Strategies 360 are masters at media, public relations, and remaking corporate images and reputations.

Strategies 360 established its office beachhead in Hawaii through two separate Political Action Committees in which holds board seats: Be Change Now, main funding source is the Hawaii Carpenters Union.  The second Political Action Committee is Pacific Resource Partnership (PRP).  PACs generally pool large amounts of money into campaigns for or against candidates, fund ballot initiatives, and enable a legislation agenda which serves their member interests.

What Makes This Local Race Different: Digital

Kona area residents, both inside and outside District 7 have recently reported encountering Clement campaign ads suddenly appearing on their screens in internet searches, web email, social networking, and even Clement campaign ads appearing when accessing web sites outside the state with no political grounding what-so-ever to Hawaii – the scale of this digital tactic goes beyond anything we’ve witnessed in previous local county elections on Hawaii Island.  Another element, as to what makes this digital tactic employed by Strategies 360 so different, is that it is much more than just targeted advertising; rather it resembles the military-equivalent of message carpet bombing.  

This year’s local council race between Villegas and Clement is different in powerful ways, it’s digital savvy with well-funded and proven mainland campaign tactics and resources marshaled by Strategies 360. Most notably is the level of money and media sophistication being applied to Clement’s candidacy.

With offices in 13 states, including Hawaii and Washington D.C. Strategies 360 large national presence enables an effective localized presence in influencing and promoting an agenda that serves a wide range of clients from coal, gas, and oil money interests to marijuana legalization, often in the form of specific candidates and ballot measures; they are mainland hired guns with a local presence and available to the highest bidder.

But At What Price to Win

This 2020 election cycle, both in Hawaii County and Oahu, feels the presence of Strategies 360 at work.  A Goliath of a presence which raises a larger question.  All this money and attention in a very local county council race — what is their endgame if their candidate takes office?  Challenger Clement’s campaign promises so far have been limited to “I care”, and absent the usual campaign issue promises of “if I’m elected…”

Incumbent Rebecca Villegas, has demonstrated leadership at the Council, and backed issues focused on the community she serves and greater Hawaii Island. Her leadership has made her friends and some well-funded political enemies, some of whom have engaged Strategies 360 to influence the race outcome in District 7.

None of this is particularly shocking, if fact, it represents politics today. Once confined to the mainland political arena and beyond the shores of Hawaii, now, sadly, no more…