Sylvia Luke

Sylvia Luke
for
Lieutenant Governor

Watch a special message from Sylvia for our members here.

July 26, 2022

A Letter to Our Union Supporters

Aloha kākou,

I am writing to you with a mahalo and an update.

Mahalo nui loa for supporting my candidacy. Everything you have done has been with respect not only for the office I am seeking, but for my opponents in this race. I am extremely grateful.

Unfortunately, I am now being subject to attack ads from the Carpenter’s Union Super PAC, Be Change Now. A TV ad that began running this week uses a mishmash of disconnected facts to impugn my integrity and confuse voters. Some of you may have seen the ad yourself, but I wanted as many of you to hear about it first from me.

The ad attempts to connect the indictment of a prolific campaign donor named Martin Kao on federal fraud charges to a five-year old state law supporting tenants forced to relocate by an ambitious harbor redevelopment project. There simply is no connection.
Martin Kao has been indicted for fraudulently obtaining $12.8 million in covid relief funds and also illegally funneling $200,000 to the re-election fund of a U.S. Senator representing the state of Maine.
HB 591 of 2017 expanded tax credits for companies who were forced to relocate so the state could develop a new container terminal. That law was approved by 72 out of 76 legislators – from both parties — and became law.
These kinds of ads disgust most voters and damage the entire election process. As a public servant who aspires to one of the top leadership positions in the state, I have a duty to repudiate smears and disinformation. As a result, I have issued a media statement calling for Be Change Now to stop its smear campaign.

I am used to the rough-and-tumble of politics. Super PAC spending has been protected by the U.S. Supreme Court. But, we must demand they behave with honesty and integrity. These tactics, all too common from Be Change Now, need to come to an end. Again, mahalo for your steadfast and pono support. We will come through this process together with our integrity intact!

Mahalo,

Sylvia Luke