By JASON ARMSTRONG Tribune-Herald staff writer ADVERTISING The two freshmen candidates running for Hawaii County prosecutor have raised a combined $20,000 since July 1. Already among Hawaii County’s most-prominent attorneys, Lincoln Ashida and Mitch Roth are seeking the four-year term
By JASON ARMSTRONG
Tribune-Herald staff writer
The two freshmen candidates running for Hawaii County prosecutor have raised a combined $20,000 since July 1.
Already among Hawaii County’s most-prominent attorneys, Lincoln Ashida and Mitch Roth are seeking the four-year term as a prosecutor.
Ashida had a greater than 3-1 fundraising advantage over Roth as of Dec. 31, according to campaign spending reports each filed with the state before Tuesday’s deadline.
Ashida’s campaign showed $11,186 remaining of the $17,275 he raised between July 1 and Dec. 31 of last year. The donations included $1,000 Ashida gave himself as “startup funds,” according to his spending report.
“We’ve had a lot more volunteers than money,” Ashida said, adding he feels good about the number of supporters attracted to his first-ever campaign.
“It’s just been more heartwarming than I could ever have imagined,” he said. “It’s just made me so proud to be from this island.”
He reported having received the majority of his donations, $9,185, in amounts up to $100.
Ashida, 50, has served as corporation counsel, the county’s top civil attorney, since 2000. He previously worked for 13 years as one of the county’s deputy prosecutors.
Roth’s campaign finished the year with all of the $3,225 it collected since last July, according to his report.
“I feel very comfortable where we’re at right now,” he said.
Roth noted that unlike Ashida, he’s not yet held a fundraiser — the campaign kickoff is set for March 8 in Hilo — and that he entered the race later.
Roth, 47, is a deputy prosecutor, having joined the office in 1998 after a five-year stint working in a similar position with the City and County of Honolulu.
Roth said that throughout his career, he’s always shied away from asking people for money, which has made it difficult for him to shift into “political mode.”
Each candidate said he plans a grass-roots campaign.
“I’ve never run a campaign before, so we’re trying to do it as grass-roots as possible,” Ashida said.
While he and his campaign team continue to discuss fundraising goals, Ashida said Wednesday that he doesn’t feel comfortable revealing a number.
“There’s a significant cost involved” with waging a successful islandwide campaign, he said. “All around, it just costs more” than a regional race such as for a County Council seat.
Roth, who said he’s accepted campaign donations since the latest reporting period ended Dec. 31, revealed his fundraising goal.
“I think we’re probably looking at $70,000,” said Roth, who works in the office he hopes to run.
“Good for him,” he said when told about Ashida’s fundraising activity.
“One thing, I feel very blessed. I have an awesome team of supporters that are helping me,” Roth added.
Ashida, who’s held a Hilo fundraiser, said he has more scheduled. He’s looking to wage a positive campaign focused on explaining to voters why he feels the best qualified to serve the county.
Last January, Prosecutor Jay Kimura announced he would retire rather than seek re-election or fill out his term that ends Dec. 3.
Kimura was replaced in April by former First Deputy Charlene Iboshi, who continues running the department.
Iboshi has said she won’t seek election.
No other candidate has publicly announced plans to run for the office that pays a starting salary of $103,944.
Email Jason Armstrong at jarmstrong@hawaiitribune-
herald.com.
