Hawaii Island’s newly redefined and open District 6 seat in the state House of Representatives has so far attracted two Republican candidates seeking to represent the Kona district.
State House and Senate filing got off to a late start March 17, after an unsuccessful challenge of the lines drawn by the state Reapportionment Commission. A divided state Supreme Court voted 3-2 to dismiss the lawsuit, although their opinions had not yet been published explaining the rationale by press-time Monday.
Due to population growth, the Big Island gained an eighth House seat during the reapportionment process, and there was some debate over whether it should go in East or West Hawaii. Eventually, the seat came to the Kona side.
Jonathan Kennealy and Bronsten Kossow share a love of and an enthusiasm for improving the island, although their approaches differ somewhat. Both were born and raised on the island.
Kennealy, 40, was born in Hilo and left to join the military soon after graduating from Waiakea High School. Twenty years later, he came back to care for his family when the pandemic hit. He now works as a contracted security officer at the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole.
“I came home to take care of Hawaii,” he said. “I couldn’t just go back to the mainland and let Hawaii keep going in the direction it’s going when there’s a lot I can help with.”
He said he has a “black and white approach, a common-sense approach.” Priorities include caring for the people, tackling corruption through audits and pushing for a more constitutionally appropriate government.
Kossow, 27, previously ran unsuccessfully for a County Council seat. He’s served on the county Game Management Advisory Commission and most recently, on the county Redistricting Commission that redrew County Council seats. Kossow works as government affairs liaison for Paradise Helicopters, where he’s worked for eight years and previously served as vice president of operations. He also has a consulting company.
Priorities include tackling homelessness and creating affordable housing as well as supporting small businesses.
“I can provide a middle ground and I can work with both sides regardless of what their political beliefs are,” he said. “I believe our community does need representation that can serve the community.”
The two are among 13 House candidates to pull nomination papers by Friday, according to a report by the state Office of Elections. Of those, only one, state Rep. David Tarnas, an incumbent representing District 8, has filed. The candidate filing period ends June 7 for the Aug. 13 primary election.
Tarnas, a Democrat, has challengers from both the Democratic and Republican parties. Republican Gunther Mench and Democrats Makai Freitas and Major Heitz have all pulled papers for the Kohala seat.
So far, District 7 incumbent Nicole Lowen, a Democrat representing North Kona, has n apparent challengers.
The sprawling District 5, which runs from Captain Cook to Keaau, has Republican Travis Goodwin and Libertarian Michael Last pulling papers to challenge incumbent Democrat Jeanne Kapela.
So far, Puna’s District 4 has nonpartisan Brian Ley and Libertarian Candace Linton pulling papers.
Aloha Aina candidate Devinshaw McMackin is the only Hilo District 3 candidate to pull papers. No one has pulled for the Hilo District 2 or Hamakua District 1 seat by late Friday.