House Committee on Judiciary (JUD) - chair: Waters, vice chair: Oshiro

Tuesday, February 6, 2007, 2:00 p.m. Room 325

Testifier: JoAnn Maruoka, Legislative Committee member, LWV-Hawaii

Click here to view HB389

The League of Women Voters supports H.B. 389 to prohibit candidates for public office from appearing in public service announcements from the time of filing nomination papers until the time the person is no longer a candidate. We feel this is a sound prohibition that will benefit the public, and level the playing field for all candidates. If elected officials who are also candidates for office make public service announcements, they clearly gain advantage over other candidates by the exposure, and by association with the public service announcement message, an implied effectiveness in carrying out the duties of their office. The proposed prohibition should minimize such perceptions, and lessen the potential for claims by opponents of misuse of power or position by a candidate. It is another step forward in ensuring fair and honest elections. We urge passage of H.B. 389. Thank you for the opportunity to testify on this bill.