Hannemann's PR Sprint to the Finish Line
07/20/2010
City & County of Honolulu
Maybe Mufi Hannemann was just doing his job. Or maybe all the criticism that he is leaving his job as mayor prematurely to run for governor was getting to him.
But Hannemann, who officially steps down today (as required by law) to file his election papers for the governor's race, sure was busy during his last days in office.
All told, the mayor issued 16 press releases over four consecutive days last week, from July 13-16. (They did not include the city's weekly road repair report.)
That's equal to the total number of press releases generated by the administration from June 21 through July 12 (not including routine releases on road and sewer work, siren tests and holiday schedules).
Hannemann will lose the power of government-issued PR today, of course, and have to rely solely on the paid flacks at McNeil-Wilson Communications to get the word out on his comings and goings.
Civil Beat takes a look at Mayor Hannemann's executive actions during his last days in office, as chronicled by official press release.
They show the mayor taking the lead on sewers, roads, rail and garbage.
"You ask why such a flurry of press releases," mayoral spokesman Bill Brennan said. "And the answer is, 'We have a wonderful story to tell.' The Mayor closed the loop on many of the initiatives he’s been working on during his years in office."
