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The Honolulu Star-Advertiser On Politics column [The Honolulu Star-Advertiser](Honolulu Star-Advertiser (HI) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Sept. 14--Bob Awana is back in politics. The long-serving Linda Lingle adviser, called by the former GOP governor as her "campaign adviser for life," is working on the gubernatorial campaign of former GOP Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona. Awana did not respond to several requests for comment, but campaign records show that Aiona has paid $15,706 to Awana's management consulting company, Resource Partners Hawaii. According to Campaign Spending Commission records, Aiona is paying Awana for "voter identification, database management and consulting." Earlier this year, Awana had also worked for the campaign of Ernie Martin, chairman of the Honolulu City Council. In an interview last week, Aiona confirmed that his campaign has hired Awana. "He is basically helping with the GOTV (Get Out the Vote). Other than that, I talk to him now and then," Aiona said. The 59-year-old former Circuit Court judge said he is taking a more hands-on approach to his second campaign for governor and is enjoying it. "It is a whole different feel from 2010," Aiona said. "I am taking a little more of a role. I am a little more involved in the day-to-day." Four years ago, Aiona lost in his campaign against Gov. Neil Abercrombie by 65,000 votes, 58 percent to 41 percent. Adding Awana to the campaign team may be a big help, but it comes with its own back story. Awana resigned his post as Lingle's chief of staff in 2007 after it had been reported that Awana was the victim of a blackmail attempt. At the time of the resignation, Lingle said she and Awana "mutually concluded it was in the best interest of all that he resign his position effective immediately." It wasn't until December 2007 that Lingle commented further on the Awana case, and then to say: "He resigned because of media attention and sensation- alization of him being the victim of blackmail and the media focusing on his personal life and personal issues." Awana had said he was the victim of an extortion attempt by an Indian national, Rajdatta Patkar, who was convicted of trying to extort $35,000 from Awana in 2005. According to court records filed at the time, Patkar threatened to reveal contents of unseemly e-mails between Awana and an acquaintance. The Associated Press said that the blackmail was over allegations of a relationship between Awana and a woman in the Philippines. At the time of his departure, Awana was considered the most powerful person in state government, next to Lingle. He was an effective negotiator with the state Legislature for his GOP boss, and was able to bridge the gap between voting groups that were sometimes wary of the GOP governor. Awana had also served as chief of staff to former Honolulu Mayor Eileen Anderson. Although Aiona was quick to praise the many volunteers working on his campaign, he repeatedly stressed that the most critical part of his strategy is getting out the vote, which is part of Awana's job. "It is all about the vote. We know the number we have to turn out and we are going to get that," said Aiona. Saying that the rest of it is "my job," Aiona is taking responsibility for "making sure we get our message out there, make sure people are comfortable with me, and being a reason to vote for me." Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at [email protected]. ___ (c)2014 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit The Honolulu Star-Advertiser at www.staradvertiser.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |