Political newcomer Nicole Lowen prevailed in the four-way race for the Democratic Party’s nomination for the state’s 6th House District.
Lowen topped Kalei Akaka, Bucky Leslie and Fred Housel with 1,025 votes, or 33 percent of the total cast. Following behind was Akaka, with 980 votes, Leslie with 703 votes and Housel with 435 votes.
District 6 runs from Lako Street to the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, including parts of Holualoa, Kailua Village and Honokohau Harbor.
Lowen said said she’s excited to get the nomination during her first attempt at seeking public office.
“I am very excited, very humbled, very honored,” she said. “It’s been an incredible experience thus far. I just feel overwhelmed by the support.”
She said she faced tough competition, with three other serious competitors seeking the party’s nomination.
Lowen will face Republican Roy Ebert, who defeated Mike Breslin for the GOP nod, with 486 votes, or 53 percent.
Ebert said he met with many business owners and community members during the campaign.
“I know they were looking for somebody strong and conservative to represent them at the Legislature,” he said, adding he meets those criteria.
In District 5, which encompasses a large portion of the island running south from Lako Street through about Ka‘u, Denny Coffman won the Democratic nomination and will face Republican Dave Bateman, who was unopposed for the GOP nomination, in the November general election.
Coffman defeated Leolani Lagat Oyama in the redrawn District 5, which runs from central Kona through Ka‘u. He received 2,344 votes, or 68 percent, compared with Oyama’s 1,100 votes. Coffman previously represented District 6, which included more of North Kona.
“A big mahalo to my Democratic Party folks who helped me so far,” Coffman said. “I’m going to work hard to win the election in the general.”
In North Hawaii, incumbent Mark Nakashima breezed by challenger Noralyn Bolosan Pajimola, securing not just the Democratic Party nomination, but also the House District 1 seat. No Republicans attempted to take the seat. Nakashima got 4,509 votes, for 74 percent, over Pajimola’s 1,613 votes.
In East Hawaii, Richard Onishi defeated County Councilwoman Brittany Smart for the 3rd District Democratic Party nomination. Onishi will face Republican Marlene Hapane and Libertarian Frederick Fogel for the South Hilo, Volcano, Kurtistown seat. Onishi got 3,107 votes, or 59 percent, compared with Smart’s 2,138 votes.
Onishi thanked his campaign team for getting his name out to the community.
“It took a lot of volunteers and supporters to do that,” he said.
He also complimented Smart.
“I have a lot of respect for Brittany,” he said. “I hope she continues to serve the community.”
Incumbents Clift Tsuji, D-2nd District, and Cindy Evans, D-7th District, were unopposed in the primary. No Republicans filed in either race, sending Tsuji and Evans back to the Legislature automatically.