HONOLULU -- Kirk Caldwell's new commercial running on Hawaii television stations emphasizes managerial experience he has gained from serving almost two years as city managing director and now acting mayor.

The ad begins, "Caldwell growing our economy and jobs.$ 2.1 billion dollars for new infrastructure. Caldwell moving permits for hundreds of millions in new construction."

As as fact check --- Caldwell is exaggerating his role. The $2.1 billion dollars budget is the city council's budget signed by former Mayor Mufi Hannemann in June.

Then, the commercial goes on to criticize Peter Carlisle, the former Honolulu Prosecutor who is the front-runner in the Honolulu mayor's race.

The commercial says, "Peter Carlisle, spending in his office spiraled out of control, up 60 percent and Carlisle has taken six separate pay raises. Pay raise Sky rocketing budgets, and Carlisle has taken six separate pay raises --- six pay raises --- sky rocketing budgets --- makes you wonder is Peter Carlisle really ready to be mayor?"

Carlisle said Friday his budget increased 18 percent not 60 percent and he said in the same period, the city's budget increased 63 percent.

And about the pay raises. Carlisle's pay raises are set by state law by the State Salary Commission,

"In fact in 2008, I asked the salary commission not to increase my pay. That was the year the economy went bad, and I asked them not to increase my pay. They did what I asked them," said Carlisle.

Carlisle had documents to show his annual salary as Honolulu prosecutor had been hiked to $129,312 in 2008 but it has remained frozen at that rate in 2009 and 2010.

Carlisle said in the 14 years he worked as Honolulu Prosecutor, his salary increased from $90,000 to $129,312 annually.

"It took me years and years to get there. It wasn't something I got with somebody hiring me and over night I was making a six figure salary," said Carlisle.

Caldwell said Friday his commercial was created by a team of Hawaii and mainland media advisors.

"Carlisle has made fiscal responsibility a big issue. He is front and center on this issue as a lawyer. The facts speak for themselves. Carlisle has taken pay raises and there has also been a dramatic increase in his budget," said Caldwell.

Caldwell said for the last two years he and other city cabinet members have voluntarily taken five percent pay cuts even though they also receive raises set by a salary commission. He said he has seen his annual salary drop from $126,732 to $120,396.

In the latest poll released by the Honolulu Star-Advertiser August 24, Carlisle was favored by 49 percent of residents polled, 25 percent said they would vote for Caldwell.

Political analyst and University of Hawaii Professor Neal Milner said Friday with Caldwell trailing in the polls, he expected Caldwell to go negative.

"Caldwell is behind in the polls. He is behind Carlisle who is a very popular person in polls and gets very positive ratings. This ad is an attempt to change that positive perception because it is the only way Caldwell thinks he can make a big difference in a short period of time," said Milner.

The special, winner-take-all election for Honolulu mayor is Sep. 18.

Caldwell denied that his commercial is negative. "I am staying with the facts as they exist. Those facts speak for themselves," Caldwell said.

Friday night, Kim Devlin of the Caldwell Campaign emailed after KITV's report appeared saying that Carlisle's budget for the Honolulu Prosecutor's Office from 2001 through 2009 did exceed 60 percent.

But Carlisle's office gave news reporters its operating budget figures from fiscal 2003 through 2011.