Kauai County election filings closed

In 2014 Kauai elects the mayor and county council. Here is a summary of candidates who have filed nomination papers - to appear on the ballot the signatures they have collected still need to be verified. This year we elect the mayor and the full council; the prosecuting attorney is not up for election until 2016. State office holders are also on the ballot, but not mentioned in this piece.

• Register to vote (or re-register if you have moved) by July 10, or call 808-241-4800
• Request absentee mail-in ballot at least one week before election day
• Primary election is August 9, voting begins July 28
• General election is November 4, voting begins October 21
• Kauai county elections web page, elections fact sheet
• League of Women Voter's candidate info: Mayor, Council
• Last election (2012 results): over 40,000 registered with over 25,000 voting

Mayor

There are four mayoral candidates with the top two vote-getters from the primary going on to the general election. Incumbent mayor is widely expected to win but there is a lot of buzz about former pro surfer Dustin Barca challenging in his first election for public office.

1. Dustin Barca - Kilauea
2. Bernhard Carvalho, Jr. (i) - Kapaa, wikipedia; Facebook (not updated since 2010)
3. Debralynn M. Desilva-Carveiro - Eleele
4. Curtis H. Lake - Kapaa

County Council

All seven council positions are up for election this year. The top 14 vote-getters in the primary will be on the General Election ballot for the seven at-large positions. Vote for the best candidates of your choice, not necessary to vote for seven. I recommend against the strategy one sometimes hears of not voting for good candidates considered "sure to win" - obviously if everyone did that it doesn't work. Over-voting (voting for more than seven) is not allowed an nullifies your vote so count carefully.

1. Arthur Brun - Kekaha, works for Syngenta (biotechnology corporation)
2. Tim L. Bynum (i) - Kapaʻa, recently won settlement to lawsuit against the county in court
3. Mason K. Chock, Sr. (i) - Kapaʻa
4. Felicia E. Cowden - Kilauea, prominent local radio personality
5. J. Furfaro (i) - Princeville, current chair of the council
6. Joanne Georgi - Eleele, ran for state senate unsuccessfully in 2010
7. Gary L. Hooser (i) - Kapaʻa
8. Ronald J. Horoshko - Kalaheo, operates the golf course cafe Birdie's
9. Joseph H. Kaauwai, Jr. - Anahola, ran and lost in 2012
10. Ross K. Kagawa (i) - Lihue
11. Ernest L. Kanekoa, Jr. - Kalaheo, police commission member
12. Arryl J. Kaneshiro - Lihue
13. Sandra I. Klutke - Kapaʻa, on the Agribusiness Development Council (source)
14. Kipukai L.P. Kuaalii - Anahola, ran and narrowly lost in 2012
15. Tiana K. Laranio - Kapaʻa
16. Arnold W. F. Leong - Hanapepe
17. Darryl D. Perry - Lihue, chief of police
18. Melvin F. Rapozo (i) - Kapaʻa
19. JoAnn A. Yukimura (i) - Lihue, former mayor

My predictions for the primary election, not that it matters:

• Mayor: Carvalho (over 50%) and a strong showing from Barca for mayor
• Council: all incumbents plus Brun, Cowden, Georgi, Kanekoa, Kaneshiro, Kuaalii, Perry