LIHU‘E — The 2022 general election is almost upon us, with all seven Kaua‘i County Council seats, the mayor’s office and four Kaua‘i state Legislature positions up for grabs.
Every registered voter will automatically receive a ballot in the mail as a result of the all-mail election state law that took effect in 2020.
Voters can either send ballots to the county Office of the County Clerk Elections Division using the pre-paid, pre-addressed envelope included in their ballot packet, or drop their ballots off at a deposit box or a voter service center. To be counted, ballots must be received by the division by 7 p.m. on election day, which is Nov. 8.
Kaua‘i voters should receive their ballots by this Wednesday, Oct. 19.
Where can I drop off my ballot?
Deposit boxes will be set up at the following locations by Oct. 21: Waimea Neighborhood Center, 4556 Makeke Road; Hanapepe Recreation Center, 4451 Puolo Road; Koloa Neighborhood Center, 3461 Weliweli Road; Kalaheo Neighborhood Center, 4480 Papalina Road; Historic County Annex Building, 4386 Rice St., Lihu‘e; Waipouli Town Center, 4-757 Kuhio Highway; Kilauea Neighborhood Center, 2460 Keneke St.; Princeville Public Library, 4343 Emmalani Drive; Hanalei Neighborhood Center, 4-5358 Kuhio Highway.
Who is running?
Mayor
The mayor serves as the chief executive officer of the county, exercising direct supervision over all county departments and coordinating all administrative activities. The mayor serves a four-year term beginning on the first working day in December following the election. Candidates: Derek Kawakami (incumbent); Michael Roven Poai. Both the mayor and council races are nonpartisan (candidates don’t declare party affiliation).
County council
All seven county council seats are up for election this year. Councilmembers are elected at-large and serve two-year terms. Each voter is eligible to vote for as many as seven candidates (and may vote for less). Voting for more than seven candidates is referred to as over-voting and voids all votes cast in the race.
In the event of a tie vote for the last remaining at-large council office, the winner will be decided by a method of chance determined by the County Clerk.
Candidates: Addison Bulosan, Lila Balmores-Metzger, Fern Anuenue Holland, Billy DeCosta (incumbent), Nelson Mukai, KipuKai Kuali‘i (incumbent), Felicia Cowden (incumbent), Luke Evslin (incumbent), Bernard Carvalho (incumbent), Roy Saito, Mel Rapozo, Ross Kagawa, Rachel Secretario and Shirley Simbre-Medeiros.
State Legislature
Senate District 8:
Candidates: Ana Mo Des (R), Ron Kouchi (D, incumbent)
Representative
District 15:
Candidates: Greg Bentley (R), Nadine Nakamura (D, incumbent)
Representative
District 16:
Candidates: Steve Yoder (R), James Tokioka (D, incumbent)
Representative
District 17:
Candidates: Michael Wilson (R), Dee Morikawa (D, incumbent)
U.S. Senate
Candidates: Bob McDermott (R), Brian Schatz (D, incumbent)
U.S. House
District 2
Candidates: Joseph Akana (R), Jill Tokuda (D)
Governor
Candidates: Duke Aiona (R), Josh Green (D)
Lieutenant governor
Candidates: Seaula Tupa‘i (R), Sylvia Luke (D)
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Guthrie Scrimgeour, can be reached at 808-647-0329
