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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, April 14, 2006

Harris supporter to pay hefty fine

Associated Press

Russell Figueiroa

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Jeremy Harris

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A businessman who made illegal campaign contributions to the campaign of former Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris has agreed to pay a $50,800 fine.

The state Campaign Spending Commission approved the agreement with Russell Figueiroa on Wednesday.

Figueiroa is president of R.M. Towill Corp., one of the largest engineering firms in the state. It is one of the city's largest contractors, receiving more than $30 million in nonbid work since 1996.

Figueiroa and former company chairman Donald Kim pleaded no contest in 2004 to misdemeanor charges filed in connection with illegal campaign contributions. They had been accused of making a campaign contribution under a false name and of exceeding the legal donation limit.

Figueiroa and Kim, a former chairman of the University of Hawai'i Board of Regents, were sentenced to pay $4,000 apiece.

Harris has denied any link between political contributions and the awarding of nonbid city contracts.

The city prosecutor's office prosecuted more than 50 individuals and companies over the past four years in a concerted effort to crack down on violations of laws regulating political campaign donations.