Four more Kaua’i candidates have picked up their applications from the county election office on Rice Street. Two of the four candidates picked up papers for the 2002 council race. Rhoda Libre, who finished out of the top 7 in
Four more Kaua’i candidates have picked up their applications from the county election office on Rice Street.
Two of the four candidates picked up papers for the 2002 council race.
Rhoda Libre, who finished out of the top 7 in the 2000 council election is running again.
Libre talked last campaign about the need for a female voice on the council and that slot is still not filled – all seven council members in both 1998 and 2000 were men. The same eight men, with Kaipo Asing replacing Billy Swain in 2000.
Scott Sagum, the manager of the recently restored Kaua’i Inn also picked up papers for the upcoming council race.
If Sagum does file his papers he will be a first-time candidate.
The council race is allegedly non-partisan and council candidates do not have to announce which party’s banner their philosophy is sheltered under.
Hermina “Mina” Morita, the incumbent in the 14 District (formerly the 12th District) representing the North Shore of Kaua’i, has picked up her papers for another run at state representative.
Morita is a former member of the Kaua’i Planning Commission (1990-’93) and a former member of the Kaua’i Police Commission (1993-’96).
Once again the overactive Kaua’i rumor mill has floated what appears to be erroneous information.
Ever since current council member Gary Hooser announced he would be running for a Kaua’i state senate seat (District 7), rumor mongers around the historic county building and the courthouse have been claiming incumbent senator Jonathan Chun told them he was not running for re-election.
That’s not what Chun said when interviewed by this newspaper and last week he picked up his application papers for another run.
Chun, an attorney with an office in Lihu’e, is married and has three children.
Chun is a former chief deputy county attorney (1992-’98).
In addition to Hooser, two other current council members, Bryan Baptiste and current chair Ron Kouchi, have announced they are running against each other for mayor Maryanne Kusaka’s seat.
Kusaka’s two terms are up at the end of this year and term limits forbid another four years for her, although she could, if she chose, run for council or a state office.
Current council vice-chair Randal Valenciano has picked up application papers for both council and mayor but has thus far coyly declined from announcing what office he will be seeking.
Even without Valenciano in the mayor’s race, there will be three vacant seats on council to be fought over. If Valenciano decides to run for the county’s top elective office, there will be four empty seats.
And there have been rumors that Kaipo Asing also might take another run at mayor, a speculation Asing has not confirmed or denied at this time.
However it shakes out there will be at least three new faces on the 2002 council after the November 5th election.
This year’s primary election is slated for September 21.
