Last Friday, I reported that the Sho Dozono campaign appeared to asking the city auditor about pulling out of public funding. After checking in with the campaign, manager Amie Abbott pointed out that it was Stephanie Dozono—the candidate’s daughter—who had asked, and she didn’t speak for the campaign (though the answers from the auditor’s staff were sent to Abbott, the candidate, and other candidate staffers). She also said they were not considering dropping out of public funding. Dozono is the last candidate awaiting final certification. I dropped by the auditor’s office today to see if they had a sense of when we might hear the decision… no luck.

Back to Abbott. Here’s what she said on Friday:

“Stephanie Dozono is not authorized to speak on behalf of the Dozono campaign.”…

Abbott adds: “She’s an innocent child who I would assume is just sort of feeling things out as a child of a parent running for office. She in no way shape or form speaks on behalf of the campaign. I want you to clearly understand that Stephanie Dozono is not affiliated with our campaign.”

Today, Abbott wrote in to clarify that statement.

I’m writing to correct my statements made to you last Friday, which were reported in your Election 2008 blog 2/22/08. I made a mistake by saying that Steph Dozono is not affiliated with the Sho for Mayor campaign. Obviously as the daughter of the candidate she is by virtue affiliated.

Additionally, Steph had an integral role in the campaign launch. While I do not see Steph at our campaign headquarters often, she does volunteer on behalf of the campaign, assisting with campaign-related events.

In my statement last Friday, I did not intend to say that she does not play a role in her Dad’s campaign. My intent was to clarify that she was not speaking on behalf of the campaign.

While Steph does not speak on behalf of the campaign, she is very active in working to get her Dad elected. I used poor word choice in representing Steph Dozono’s role in the campaign, and am writing to amend my past statement.

I’ve already mentioned Dozono’s big campaign event this weekend, but here’s the info again:

(Click on that for a bigger image.)