Killing the adage, “out with the old and in with the new,” all six County Council incumbents seeking re-election posted strong numbers in yesterday’s primary election. The only fresh face at the table was Ohana Kaua‘i tax relief advocate Ron
Killing the adage, “out with the old and in with the new,” all six County Council incumbents seeking re-election posted strong numbers in yesterday’s primary election.
The only fresh face at the table was Ohana Kaua‘i tax relief advocate Ron Kouchi, who held 9 percent of the vote as of press time late last night. The results are not official.
Kouchi sat in fifth, behind JoAnn Yukimura (12 percent), Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho (10 percent), Mel Rapozo and Jay Furfaro (9 percent each). Council chairman Kaipo Asing and fellow incumbent Daryl Kaneshiro ranked sixth and seventh with 9 percent and 8 percent, respectively.
The only sitting member not on the council ballot is James Tokioka, who was leading Linda Estes for the Democratic nomination for the 15th District of the state House of Representatives 63 percent to 37 percent. He will face Ron Agor, who ran unopposed for the Republican nomination.
Of the 15 council hopefuls, 14 will move on to the general election Nov. 7. At 2 percent of the vote after the second round of tabulations came in, Bob Cariffe appeared to be the odd man out.
Challengers Tim Bynum, Billy DeCosta, K.C. Lum, Joseph Kaauwai, Monroe Richman, Ming Fang and George Anderson moved on.
“We believe there are a lot of people that want to have the change, and whether we’re up ahead or behind, we still believe in the direction we need to go,” Lum said.
As of 11 p.m. last night, incumbent Mayor Bryan Baptiste held 50 percent of the vote. If Baptiste gets 50 percent plus one vote, he automatically wins the seat. At press time, he was less than 15 votes off that mark.
In one of the more anticipated races in recent years, incumbent U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka was beating challenger Ed Case 55 percent to 45 percent after the second summary report released last night at 10:35 p.m. The more than 15,000-vote lead is more than likely insurmountable. Akaka will likely face a yet-to-be named Republican challenger in November.
Jerry Coffee won the nomination despite dropping out after emergency bypass surgery, but party loyalists voted for him to keep control over the ticket. Gov. Lingle said last night she would provide input to state Republican party chairman Sam Aiona on Coffee’s replacement.
Akaka’s spokeswoman, Elisa Yadao, said the Akaka campaign never took anything for granted.
“It’s a testament the campaign organization and to the regard to aloha,” she said. “At no point did we take anything for granted. Ed Case is a very strong campaigner and very appealing to many people in the electorate.”
In the 2nd Congressional District seat vacated by Case, Kaua‘i’s Gary Hooser sat in a disappointing fourth at 11 percent after the second round of numbers came in, well behind leader Mazie Hirono’s 23 percent. Hooser was the only Neighbor Island candidate of the 10 House of Representatives hopefuls.
Hirono will likely face Republican Bob Hogue, who led Quentin Kawananakoa 52 percent to 48 percent after the second round of numbers.
In the least surprising development of the night, incumbent Linda Lingle garnered 98 percent of the vote in the Republican primary, ensuring a showdown with Democratic candidate Randy Iwase, who also won in a landslide.
“We are looking forward to the next few weeks and getting out and campaigning,” Lingle told supporters late last night in Honolulu. “If you want to keep Hawai‘i moving forward, you’ll vote Lingle-Aiona.”
In the state 16th Congressional District, which covers the Westside and Ni‘ihau, Republican JoAnne Georgi ran unopposed and will likely face Democrat Roland Sagum, who led Rhoda Libre by eight percentage points after the second round of numbers came in.
• Amanda C. Gregg, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or agregg@kauaipubco.com.
• Ford Gunter, associate editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or fgunter@kauaipubco.com.
