• Government workers are being told they will lose their jobs if Linda Lingle wins.

(Not true. No such plan exists, and no government workers were laid off during Lingle's eight years as Mayor of Maui.)

• Church members are being told that Linda Lingle is gay and that she supports same-sex marriage.

(Both of these statements are outright lies. Lingle has been married, and she voted against same-sex marriage. The fact is, however, that both Mazie Hirono and her running mate Matt Matsunaga have publicly announced their support for same-sex marriage.)

• Environmentalists are being told that Linda Lingle is anti-environment.

(Another outright lie as her Maui track record proves.)

• Various community and not-for-profit groups are being told that Linda Lingle will eliminate their funding because that's what she did on Maui.

(These are also outright lies; Lingle has a strong record of working closely and effectively with community and not-for-profit organizations.)

No matter who you are, the Democrats seem to have a lie especially for you. These lies are meant to confuse you, scare you, turn you off and keep you from voting. Don't let these tactics keep you at home on Nov. 5. Get the facts at http://www.lindalingle.com and vote for government with integrity.

The Democrat Web site "linglefacts.com" has drawn intense criticism as yet another example of the smear tactics that have become a trademark of the Democrat Party campaign style in Hawaii. The site contains false and misleading allegations against Linda Lingle and has been cited as an example of cybersquatting, an illegal practice in Hawaii.

"The site contains half-truths, innuendos and twisted facts," according to Judge Duke Aiona. "Most of these so-called 'facts' are either groundless or have been debunked and dismissed as without merit upon investigation by the appropriate board or county council."

The attacks malign and misrepresent Linda Lingle's record in six areas: ethics, management, campaign funding sources, consumer protection, Hawaiian, and environmental issues.

Among the Democrats' allegations are these false and distorted claims:

• Distorted claim: Lingle used affordable housing funds to bail out a developer on Maui.

The facts: There was no such bailout. When zoning errors on the part of county employees prevented a developer from completing his Makawao Highlands project, Mayor Lingle looked for a win-win solution to the problem. She decided to buy back the land and turn it into an affordable housing project for the people of Maui. The Maui County Council approved her solution and the project. Affordable housing funds were used to create homes for low-income families. Under her leadership, Maui County worked with a variety of social service organizations to develop the project. In 2000, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded the Makawao Highlands project a Best Practices' 2000 Local Award.

• Distorted claim: Hired attorney husband using county money.

The facts: Like had been done for 20 years, Linda chose her husband as her personal attorney to represent her in a suit that involved the county. The county paid for her representation just like it had done for the past 20 years whenever a county employee needed representation in a case. The Supreme Court ruled that the county should follow a different procedure than that used during the previous 20 years -- and required the county council to approve the hiring of any attorney for any reason. The county council believed that Mr. Crocket (Linda's husband) did a good job at a very reasonable price and provided the county a valuable service. They could have demanded reimbursement, but did not, because he did a good job.

• Distorted claim: Lingle made questionable appointments to staff and boards.

The facts: The heavily Democrat Maui County Council challenged several of Linda Lingle's appointments, just as the state Senate has challenged many of Gov. Ben Cayetano's appointments. When she was elected Mayor, Linda Lingle ran ads in local newspapers and invited anyone interested in serving the public to submit their resumes for consideration for appointed positions. This brought a lot of new people -- fresh faces -- into government. Lingle did not appoint people just because of their political connections. This upset some old-timers on the County Council who were recommending friends and family members for these positions. Nevertheless, as Mayor, Lingle was able to work effectively with the Democrats on the County Council to accomplish positive change for Maui.

• False claim: Circumvented state law to help nephew get driver's permit.

The facts: This is an outright lie. Linda Lingle's sister, Barbara Cutter Fujita, took all legally required steps, including obtaining the signature of her former husband, to secure a driving permit for her son. Afterward, Lingle joined many others in criticizing the requirement to obtain a former spouse's signature as an arbitrary, needless burden on divorced parents.

• Distorted claim: Increased vehicle purchases from Cutter dealerships.

The facts: Actually, Linda Lingle dramatically reduced the number of county employees entitled to the use of a county automobile. As she has publicly said many times, "I couldn't figure out why so many county employees needed cars when their jobs didn't involve driving anywhere to serve the public." Nevertheless, there were some automobile purchases made while Linda was mayor. In all cases these purchases were put up for competitive bid, with the contract going to the lowest bidder. Sometimes the low bidder was Cutter.

• Distorted claim: Mainland money finances Lingle's campaign.

The facts: This statement is particularly hypocritical for the Democrats. Seventy-three percent of Linda Lingle's campaign dollars are local; 90 percent of donors to her campaign reside in Hawaii. Only about 27 percent of Linda Lingle's donations have come from the mainland. By contrast, Hawaii Democrats are far more dependent on mainland contributions: The Hawaii Democratic Party -- 35 percent; Rep. Neil Abercrombie -- 62 percent; Senator Dan Inouye -- 73 percent.

• Distorted claim: Record on Hawaiian rights and entitlements.

The facts: Linda Lingle is a staunch supporter of the Hawaiian people. She was the first county mayor to exempt Hawaiian Homelands from county property taxes. Fulfilling commitments to Native Hawaiians is an important part of her Agenda for a New Beginning. As governor, she has pledged to personally lobby the Bush Administration and the Republican leadership in Congress on behalf of Native Hawaiians. Lingle has pledged to work for federal recognition of Native Hawaiians; to support continued state and federal funding for Native Hawaiian health-care programs; and to preserve and increase the use of the Hawaiian language, culture and music as central, unifying elements in our way of life.

• Distorted claim: Favored developers over environment.

The facts: Linda Lingle was popular with Maui residents in large part due to her respect for the environment and her efforts to balance economic and environmental priorities. The people of Maui County elected and re-elected her as many times as the law allows for every office she ever ran for -- five County Council terms in a row and then two terms as mayor.

Linda Lingle states in her Agenda for a New Beginning that "Respect and responsibility for our environment and stewardship of our natural resources are part of the social fabric of our society today. And as an island state with an economy based to a large degree on tourism and diversified agriculture, our environment is the foundation of our economic well-being." Lingle rejects the either-or proposition that pits what is best for our environment against what is best for our economy. She says: "I believe the goals of a strong economy and a protected environment can be compatible."

As governor, Linda Lingle will:

• a. Support tourism, agriculture and a healthy and harmonious lifestyle by preserving our natural beauty and environment;
• b. Support broad-based community decision making on development and preservation projects;
• c. Create markets for recyclable products by using tax or market incentives;
• d. Promote and support watershed management and preservation of aquifers.

• Distorted claim: Maui debt increased 350 percent.

The facts: It is an outright lie to say that debt on Maui increased 350 percent during Linda's years as mayor. Maui's bonded debt at the end of 1992 was 94.3 million; and at the end of FY 1999 was 214.4 million -- an increase of 127 percent. The really important information that was not shared in the Democrat's "facts" is that during this same period unreserved balances (surpluses) increased from $16.0 million to $25.1 million by the end of Fiscal Year 1998. Unreserved balances grew from 15 percent of revenues in fiscal 1994 to more than 24 percent of revenues at the end of fiscal 1997. By comparison, the state of Hawaii has an unreserved balance (surplus) of $163.1 million and that is 4.8 percent of total state revenue.

MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, on 30 March 1998, reported:

"Management's practice of conservative budgeting and expenditure controls has resulted in the accumulation of a substantial operating reserve. The unreserved General Fund balance has grown from approximately 15 percent of revenues in fiscal 1994 to more than 24 percent at the end of fiscal 1997. The accumulation is especially notable given the downturn in the state's economy during this period, and the county's own annual property tax base declines from fiscal 1994 through 1997."

STANDARD & POOR'S, on 30 March 1998, reported:

"Strong financial performance with a very healthy financial position."

"Maui closed fiscal 1997 with a $1.6 million operating surplus and a healthy unreserved general fund balance of $29.6 million (31 percent of expenditures). The county's strong fiscal health should help it weather the state's potential revenue shift as the state explores its options for revenue increases. Maui County's proven strong financial management will enable the county to maintain its fiscal integrity as it copes with potential changes from the Hawaiian state legislature."

Moody's bond rating for the State of Hawaii indicates that in fiscal 2001, debt service exceeded $526 million, approximately 15.5 percent of total general fund revenue collections. It indicated that over the last four years, the balance has not been less than 10 percent of revenue collections.

"The State has historically been one of the nation's most heavily-indebted states. both in terms of net tax-supported debt as a percentage of revenue, and debt per capita. Based on our (Moody's) 2001 State Debt Median Report, only one state ranks higher than Hawaii based on debt per capita. For debt as a percentage of total personal income, the states 11.0 percent ratio significantly outpaces the rest of the nation. The high debt burden places significant strain on the states operating budget, as total general obligation bond debt service as a percentage of the budget exceeds 11.5 percent."

Maui's debt service as a percentage of budget in 1998 was 8.3 percent.

In addition, the state of Hawaii has not managed its funds in a fiscally responsible manner or grown revenue during the Cayetano/Hirono administration and has had to continually drain special funds such as the Highway Fund and the Hurricane Relief Fund in order to keep the state afloat financially. Mayor Lingle initiated an aggressive program to close all existing land fills throughout the three island county and open new ones in compliance with new EPA directives; she increased and upgraded wastewater treatment capacity and capability; she established new parks, two new fire stations, three new youth centers, and new community centers and swimming facilities in Lahaina, upcountry, Kahului and Kihei. All of these improvements were done in a fiscally responsible manner and with the full approval of the community and County Council. The funds borrowed during this time were refinanced to take advantage of lower interest rates and to effectively manage growth within Maui County.

• Distorted claim: Maui taxes and fees increased while she was Mayor.

The facts: Part of this allegation is an outright lie and the other part is a gross distortion of the facts. Real Property tax rates were reduced during Mayor's Lingle's 8-year administration. Rates were reduced on residential and commercial property, eliminated on Hawaiian Homestead Land, and capped for those on fixed incomes. Taxes absolutely did not increase during the years that Linda Lingle was the Mayor of Maui County -- this is a lie. It is true that revenues from licenses and fees increased from $6.1 million in 1990 to $7.0 million in 1998, a 16.3 percent increase, however this increase did not occur because Mayor Lingle increased fees, it occurred because she grew the economy and Maui's population increased by 18.9 percent during that period. In reality, there was a net reduction in fees on a per capita basis during the years she was mayor.

• False claim: Maui crime increased while she was Mayor.

The facts: Not true. Crime did not increase on Maui while Linda Lingle was mayor. She fully supported the Maui Police Department. Under Mayor Lingle's leadership the Maui Police Department was able to earn National Accreditation, the only police department in Hawaii to achieve this. Linda Lingle has worked hard to reduce crime and has a strong record on this---that's why the statewide police officers' union, SHOPO, has strongly endorsed her as their candidate for governor.

• Distorted claim: Vows to repeal gasoline price cap.

The facts: The Democrats rushed to pass a gas cap bill just before the 2002 legislative session ended. The purpose was to give them something to talk about in their political campaigns. Lingle is familiar with all the evidence that such caps create gas shortages and actually drive prices higher. Moreover, the price cap law, as the Democrats wrote it, will not go into effect until 2004 and is so limited (covering only self-serve unleaded gasoline) as to be irrelevant. This is why 10 key Democrats were among the 28 legislators in Hawaii who voted against the gas price cap. Those 10 Democrats are: Rep. Jerry Chang, Rep. Eric Hamakawa, Rep. Joe Souki, Rep. Bob Nakasone, Rep. Bertha Kawakami, Rep. Mark Takai, Sen. Lorraine Inouye, Sen. David Matsuura, Sen. David Ige and Sen. Cal Kawamoto.

Linda Lingle has vowed to employ effective measures -- not mere grandstanding gestures -- to reduce the price of gasoline: by increasing competition, removing pointless restrictions on where gas stations can be built, and repealing other laws that drive up gas prices.

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