Bryan Baptiste has become the second Kaua’i County Council member to announce his candidacy for mayor in next year’s election. Baptiste, currently in his third term as a councilman, formally announced his intentions in a speech Saturday at the Kilohana
Bryan Baptiste has become the second Kaua’i County Council member to announce his candidacy for mayor in next year’s election.
Baptiste, currently in his third term as a councilman, formally announced his intentions in a speech Saturday at the Kilohana Carriage House at Gaylord’s.
The ceremony also celebrated his 46th birthday.
“Today is a special day. We celebrate two birthdays. One that celebrates 46 years of life and the experience it brings. The other, a new chapter, a new beginning … So after discussing the pressures and sacrifices with my wife and family, we realize the commitment and effort it will take to succeed. It is with this commitment and conviction that I announce my intention to run for Mayor of Kaua’i and Ni’ihau in 2002,” Baptiste said.
“Why run for Mayor? Because like you, I love this island … No other candidate will work harder to serve you. No other candidate will dedicate himself to you as I will. No other candidate will have a greater love for Kaua’i and her people,” Baptiste said.
The 46-year-old father of four children and former manager of the Kaua’i War Memorial Convention Hall Center said “leadership from the heart” is the main issue.
“I think it’s time for leadership that can bring people together and get things accomplished,” he said.
The mayoral race is putatively non-partisan.
Baptiste, a lifelong Republican, said he wouldn’t be at all surprised if at least one more candidate entered the mayoral race by next summer. Councilman Ron Kouchi, a Democrat, declared his candidacy earlier this month.
“Last election, there were three candidates and the election before that (1994) there were three candidates. I would certainly expect there will be more candidates than the two of us,” Baptiste said.
The race is to succeed Mayor Maryanne Kusaka, who can’t seek re-election next year because of term limits.
Baptiste, whose father was Mayor of Kaua’i four decades ago, said he hasn’t thought about whether, as mayor, he would make wholesale personnel changes in the current administration.
“I want to surround myself with excellence. But I haven’t thought about individual positions. I would want the best person in each job,” he said.
Baptiste’s announcement means that at least two council seats will open up in next year’s election.
Three other council members have been mentioned as mayoral candidates. But Gary Hooser, Kaipo Asing and Randal Valenciano, all Democrats, have so far refused to be drawn into any official announcements about their plans for the next election.
