In elections, it's not just the candidates who feel the heat -- their families do too.

The wife of Honolulu mayoral candidate Ben Cayetano sat down exclusively with KITV4 News to talk about business and her husband coming out of retirement.

The former First Lady has a high volume business with fast-moving coordination.

"So every section you see bath towels and hand towels," said Vicky Cayetano.

She's the CEO of United Laundry Services where she must be a stickler for details.

"So you are watching for the stain yeah?  Very good, very nice," said Cayetano.

Cayetano says an effective boss isn't just a manager but a forward-thinking leader, like her husband.

Mrs. Cayetano says she encouraged the former governor to run for Honolulu mayor when he grew unhappy about the city's more than $5 billion rail project.

"I said, 'I know hun.  I know you.  And when you see something that isn't right and you don't do something about it, you won't be able to live with yourself,'" said Cayetano.  "'So you should try do what you can.'"

But, the campaign has come at a cost -- what she calls smear tactics against her husband make her angry.