LIHU‘E — Six people have filed nomination papers for upcoming elections on Kaua‘i, aiming to win or keep a position as the prosecuting attorney or as a member of the Kaua‘i County Council, with under three months left until the June 2 filing deadline.
As of Friday afternoon, those who have filed papers include Prosecuting Attorney Justin Kollar and Councilmembers Mason Chock, Felicia Cowden and Luke Evslin, all seeking reelection.
Council members are limited to four consecutive, two-year terms. Council Vice Chair Ross Kagawa terms out at the end of this year.
Other candidates who have filed are Donovan Cabebe from Koloa and Naomi Taniguchi from Kalaheo, both for council positions.
The prosecuting attorney’s term is for four years, from December 2020 to December 2024.
To qualify for the prosecuting attorney position, candidates need to be a voter in the county for at least one year prior to election, have a license that is in good standing with state and federal courts, and has to have practiced law for at least three years in the state of Hawai‘i.
The councilmember seats are for two-year terms, from December 2020 to December 2022.
To be qualified for councilmember position, candidates must be qualified voters imn the county for at least two years prior to election.
Both the prosecutor and council candidates must have 15 signatures from registered voters of the county. Both need to pay filing fees of $250.
For the prosecuting attorney position, the candidate who receives the most votes at the general election will be elected.
For County Council, the 14 candidates who receive the most votes at the primary election will appear on the general election ballot.
The seven candidates receiving the most votes at the general election will be elected.
All candidates and their committee(s) must register and file reports with the state Campaign Spending Commission.
County of Kauai ethics requires that candidates for elective county office shall, within seven days of filing nomination paper, file with the county Board of Ethics a financial disclosure statement.
And the newly elected officials shall file amended financial disclosure statements within 30 days of assuming office.
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Stephanie Shinno, staff writer, can be reached at 245-0424 or sshinno@thegardenisland.com.
None of these candidates have filed. They only pulled papers. There’s a difference and I wish you knew.