Carlisle for Mayor

Tested & Trusted

Peter Carlisle is the right man for the job

In 1996, Carlisle was elected Prosecuting Attorney of the City and County of Honolulu and since then, has been serving in that position, being elected for an unprecedented four terms. As chief administrator for over thirteen years, Carlisle has focused on running the public office with an eye towards independence from politics or special interests.

An Independent Office

Peter Carlisle is Honolulu's third elected Prosecuting Attorney. In the past, the Honolulu Prosecutor was appointed by the Mayor of Honolulu until a change was made in the City Charter. The change mandated that the Honolulu Prosecutor be elected in order to insure the independence of that office from the Mayor, the Police Department and the rest of the City Departments. The Honolulu Prosecutor would be accountable only to the people of Honolulu.

This mandated independence is the guiding principle of Carlisle's leadership style. Under his administration, the office has been noted for the fair investigation and prosecution of all cases, no matter who the offender was and what position they held. Politics has never been, and never will be a factor in Carlisle's decision making process.

A Veteran Public Servant

Carlisle has been working for the City and County of Honolulu for a combined total of over 21 years. He came up through the ranks, starting as a line deputy, then a unit supervisor, then a division chief. When he ran for Prosecuting Attorney in 1996, it was his extensive experience over his opponent that was noted as one of the major factors in his successful bid.

Since then, under Carlisle's leadership:

No decision is made with the consideration of seeking another office
The right people are hired to do the work, there is no micromanagement
Responsibility is delegated to people who are held accountable for their actions
Successes are attributed to the people that make them happen

A Trusted Leader

Due to coordinated efforts in the community and through various agencies, Honolulu is now experiencing the lowest crime rates on record. Carlisle is proud of having played a role in this success. Over the years as Prosecuting Attorney, he has seen the transition of two governors, three attorney generals, two U.S. attorneys, thirteen legislative sessions and City Councils, two mayors, and three police chiefs. Through these transitions, Carlisle has always worked towards the goal of a safer Honolulu and attributes the successes over the years to his ability to work with other leaders in the community towards that goal.

An Executive, Not a Representative

There are over 60 elected positions on Oahu at the state and county levels. All but two of those positions are representative, in that they are elected to represent the interests of a specific region of the island. The two positions, Mayor and Prosecuting Attorney both are executive and island-wide. While elected representatives focus on securing resources for their electorate, executive offices such as Mayor and Prosecutor must focus on leadership and decision making.

Difficult times ahead

While the functions of the office of the mayor are different from those of the office of the prosecutor, the goal that underlies those functions is the same: doing what's best for the people of Honolulu. That is why tested leadership and trusted judgment, not political goals or social ideologies are the guiding forces behind Peter Carlisle, and they will guide him, always, into the future.