WAILUKU - State and county candidates made their final push to raise - and spend - campaign funds as they closed in on Election Day.
County Council Member Gladys Baisa said she was "shocked" to learn she'd raised $59,068 since the start of her campaign, and spent $55,911. She said she hadn't talked with her campaign treasurer before the finance reports came out.
"Fifty-five thousand? My God, what did I spend it on?" she said.
The deadline for candidates to file preliminary funding reports for the General Election race was extended to Friday afternoon, after the Campaign Spending Commission Web site was out of service earlier in the week.
Baisa, who is seeking re-election to a second term in the council's Makawao-Haiku-Paia residency seat, spent more than 19 times what her opponent shelled out for the same period. Challenger Michael Howden raised $7,350 and spent $2,923.
Baisa said she was "embarrassed" to ask for money, but was grateful to have so much financial support.
"I'm very touched," she said. "Because people have choices, and these are hard times."
Challenger Howden said he raised about half of what he was hoping for but was grateful for the mix of donations he received.
"I'm kind of shy about asking for money, especially these days," he said. "Most of the people I know are working people, and of course I'm not a favorite of the big corporations."
He was impressed by the amount of money Baisa raised, but thought it was "overkill."
"I was really surprised Gladys put so much effort into raising money - against me," he said. "I mean, hello?"
But Baisa's campaign was not the most successful in raising funds. Council Member Michael Victorino, who is unopposed for re-election, reported raising $68,475 since 2006.
In other council races, Netra Halperin raised $37,163 and spent $35,674 on her bid to unseat Kahului district incumbent Joe Pontanilla.
Halperin spent $24,550 of her own money on her campaign, more than any other candidate took from their personal funds. She said the money came from the sale of her house and her inheritance.
"It's just really important to me," she said. "I see a lot of problems, and I was willing to spend my own money to make a race at contributing my talents to help Maui get back on track."
Ilima Loomis can be reached at iloomis@mauinews.com.
