Yukimura tops council in votes

Six County Council incumbents were reelected, while first-time-candidate Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho, a deputy prosecuting attorney, finished third in the council voting.

Veteran Councilman Joe Munechika finished eighth in the field of 14 candidates, and will be off the newly-elected Council.

Iseri-Carvalho was not immediately available for comment last night.

Reelected were Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura, the top vote-getter and former mayor, Council Chair Kaipo Asing, Mel Rapozo, Jay Furfaro, James Tokioka and Daryl Kaneshrio.

Iseri-Carvalho brings to the council her legal acumen as an attorney and attention to detail.

Iseri-Carvalho will want to “shake things up” at city hall, as she has recommended the repeal or revision of some laws she considers archaic and pose a challenge to the smooth running of government.

Iseri-Carvalho credited her popularity to the work she has done as a prosecutor, her upbeat campaign by her, family and supporters and her ties to the Kawaihau District, the most populated area on Kaua‘i. Iseri-Carvalho grew up in that district.

With 68 percent of the 25,00 votes in from a total of 21 precincts, Yukimura garnered 14, 543 votes. Asing finished second, followed by Iseri-Carvalho, Mel Rapozo, Jay Furfaro, council vice-chairman James Tokioka and Daryl Kaneshiro.

“I am grateful for the confidence people have shown me,” she said outside the historic County Building en route to Mahalo parties thrown for other winning office-seekers.

Yukimura, a former mayor, said if Mayor Bryan Baptiste’s administration doesn’t address her concerns, the door could be opened for her to run for mayor in two years. Those concerns are solid waste, planning of the island and “promoting people properly,” she said.

Iseri-Carvalho’s bid for the council seat may have been strengthened by Baptiste’s endorsement.

Both share the same philosophy of expanding parks and developing sports facilities for the benefit of the public, and involving youths in extracurricular activities.

Munechika had finished in eight place in the Sept. 18 Primary Election, and had vowed to step up his campaign to earn a return trip to the council, but was not able to muster the support.

Munechika, a combat Vietnam veteran, had rallied the support of fellow veterans on Kaua‘i and offered his support to families of Kaua‘i National Guardsman who were activated for duty in Iraq.

Munechika, as chairman of the council’s Finance Committee, said he had thrown himself into his work to find the most workable tax reform structure.

Munechika is a retired executive with Grove Farm, the largest land developer in East Kaua‘i.

Also eliminated from the race last night were:

• Tim Bynum, a community response specialist;

• Kauilani Kahalekei, a Native Hawaiian who spoke out against more resort development and the need to build more housing for the poor;

• Rhoda Libre, a community organizer and director of the Kauai Westside Watershed Council;

• Rupert Rowe, a Native Hawaiian candidate who spoke on the need for a moratorium to prevent over-development;

• Bruce Pleas, a businessman who has fought for the protection of beach access, monitored resort development and advocated the protection of historic sites;

• Bruce Miyashiro, who has spoken out for the need for the county government to build more affordable housing with private partners.

In spite of complaints from some critics that the majority of the council has not done much in the past two years, Kaua‘i voters like the action taken by the incumbent legislators. They include:

• Property tax reform;

• Research, mostly by Yukimura, into a limited equity housing program to provide for permanently affordable housing;

• The rezoning for a 1002-acre project in Po‘ipu by the Kukuiula Development Co. Hawaii, LLC. The rezoning provided a commitment by the developer to build 75 affordable housing units.

• A request by Furfaro for the council to establish a policy to acquire land for the development of affordable housing;

• Searching for options to relieve traffic congestion;

• Continued investigation of a July 15 chemical fire at the Lihu‘e refuge station to better coordinate government emergency services;

• Creation of a commission to establish a priority for the acquisition of land for the preservation of public access;

• Funding of audits of government services, mostly at the insistence of Rapozo, who has sought accountability from government.