Of the nine County Council seats up for election this year, all but two incumbents have drawn challengers, with just two weeks remaining before the June 7 filing deadline.
Hilo District 3 Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy and Kona District 7 Councilwoman Rebecca Villegas have yet to see challengers in their districts, while three districts — Hilo District 2, South Kona/Ka‘u District 6 and Kohala District 9 — have no incumbents running.
Lee Loy and Villegas had pulled nomination papers by Monday evening’s summary report from the state Office of Elections, but they haven’t yet filed their paperwork.
Candidates who have filed by 4:30 p.m. June 7 will face off in the Aug. 13 primary election.
Lee Loy, elected in 2016, easily overcame two primary challengers in 2020.
She’s endorsed by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, Hawaii Government Employees Association, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, International Longshore &Warehouse Union, International Union of Operating Engineers, United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry and United Public Workers.
“I love our community, never shied away from challenging issues and there’s more to do,” Lee Loy said Tuesday. “I’m committed to creating alignment with the resources available from the state that help our families and nonprofits realize all the potential those resources have with housing, build back our economy and serving our keiki and kupuna.”
Villegas, first elected in 2018, has been endorsed by the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, Hawaii Firefighters Association, Hawaii Government Employees Association, Sierra Club, Planned Parenthood and Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, among others.
She’s not taking anything for granted; in 2020, a candidate filed to challenge her on the day before the filing deadline.
“I’m running for re-election to continue serving District 7 as their voice on the County Council,” Villegas said. “If re-elected, I will remain vigilant concerning the equitable distribution of County resources between East and West Hawaii, require that vital infrastructure improvements be built before or in alignment with new developments, and continue sponsoring legislation that will help protect our island home from the harmful impacts of climate change.”
Breakdown of candidate filings as of Monday:
District 1. Incumbent Heather Kimball has filed. Troy Martinez has pulled nomination papers but not filed.
District 2. No incumbent. Maurice Goulding, William Halversen, Matthias Kusch and Timothy TK Wehrsig have filed. Jen Kagiwada has pulled nomination papers but not yet filed.
District 3. Incumbent Sue Lee Loy has pulled nomination papers but not yet filed. She’s the only candidate thus far in the race.
District 4. Gregory A.Y. Lum Ho Jr. has filed. Incumbent Ashley Kierkiewicz and Josh Alameda Franklin have pulled nomination papers.
District 5. No candidate has filed. Incumbent Matt Kaneali‘i-Kleinfelder and Desmon A. Des Haumea have pulled nomination papers.
District 6. No incumbent. Colehour Bondera, Michelle M. Galimba and Shane Palacat-Nelson have filed. Courtney L. Ulu Provance and Chrissey Yeaman Carbone have pulled nomination papers.
District 7. Incumbent Rebecca Villegas has pulled nomination papers but not yet filed. She’s the only candidate thus far in the race.
District 8. Incumbent Holeka Goro Inaba and Lee-Ann Heely have filed.
District 9. No incumbent. Jeff Kalani Coakley and Cindy Evans have filed. Chris Kalei Toafili has pulled nomination papers.