Cowden rallies for seventh seat

LIHUE — There are some new faces on the Kauai County Council.

Felicia Cowden came from behind to win the seventh and final council seat in Tuesday’s general election. She’ll join incumbents Mason Chock, Arryl Kaneshiro, Ross Kagawa and Authur Brun on the council, along with challenger Luke Evslin and former councilman, KipuKai Kuali‘i.

With all 16 precints reporting in, Chock led with 12,059 votes; Kaneshiro, 11,901; Evslin, 11,682; Kagawa, 10,103; Kuali‘i 9,825; Brun, 8,830 and Cowden, 7,891.

Finishing a close eighth was Milo Spindt, 7,668; then Juno Ann Apalla, 7,614; Billy DeCosta, 7,200; Doctor Norma Sparks, 6,986; Adam Roversi, 6,004; Shaylene Iseri, 5,365 and Kanoe Ahuna, 5,037.

The winners will serve two-year terms.

It was an emotional election night around the island.

Cheers erupted from a crowd of about 100 at Ha Coffee Tuesday night after the first printout of election results was released and Kauai County Council candidate Luke Evslin’s name landed third on the list.

“I’m really happy, but a lot can happen between now and the last printout,” Evslin said in the midst of handshakes, hugs and congratulations. “It’s hard to know how I was going to do, even after the primary.”

In addition to running a campaign and waiting for results, Evslin and his wife were waiting on the birth of their baby — but their son (they think it’s a boy) refused to show on Election Night.

“We’ve been up since 3:30 this morning and my wife’s been having contractions all day,” Evslin said.

Incumbent Kaneshiro looked at Tuesday’s first readings last night with a smile on his face as friends and supporters gathered last night at the Ho’okipa Cafe at Puakea Golf Course.

“Just thankful for the people that voted and really humbled at where we’re at right now,” Kaneshiro said shortly after the initial numbers were released.

He added: “You never know how it’s going to be. You never know how people are going to vote.”

Kaneshiro said his campaign up to election night has been “so positive.”

“I hope (the voters) think that I’m here and I’m just a reasonable person on council,” he said. “I’m there to represent a reasonable voice on council. It’s just what I hope.”

If elected again, Kaneshiro said he aims to work in unison with the other elected candidates.

“I think it’s going to be a change because there’s going to be so many different council members on it now,” he said. “I think getting a cohesive council together, working for goals, (is what’s important).

“We know what the big issues are — our roads, housing, the budget is important, and then just making sure the taxpayers’ dollars are being spent wisely.”

Over at Isenberg Park, a brief downpour rained on Kuali’i’s party but it did not dampen spirits of the family, friends and supporters.

“We feel really good about the fifth place in the numbers,” Kuali’i said. “The few places above us and the few places behind us, we’re definitely right there in the middle — right there in the thick of things. We feel good about that and hopeful that it will hold on throughout the night.”

The top seven vote-getters will form the Kauai County Council.

“I hope it’s a good representation of the votes from all over the island,” Kuali’i said. “I think we couldn’t expect anything more. Our hope was to be right there in the middle and finish in the top seven, of course. I’ve finished in similar positions before. I’ve finished eighth a few times.”

If elected again, Kuali’i said this time his goals as a councilman are to “work the budget responsibly, to hold the mayor accountable, to spend the spend the people’s hard-earned tax dollars wisely.”

“As I’ve campaigned, what I mainly was telling people about was my experience and about my demeanor and how I approach things — my thoughtfulness and my ability to study hard, do the homework and make good decisions on behalf of the people,” he said. “And also that I was bringing my strength, which is with numbers, my finance background, and that when I was with the council before I was able to demonstrate that.”

Tensions were high and the mood celebratory at the Apalla camp, which was hosting their election party at WB’s Restaurant and Lounge down the street from Evslin’s party.

A cheer went up from the crowd of about 150 people when the first set of numbers was read aloud, and the tension ratcheted up a few notches when people realized very little separated Apalla from a County Council seat.

“Only 400 votes separate Juno from that seventh place,” said Addison Bulosan, who was helping emcee Apalla’s campaign party.

Apalla expressed gratitude for her supporters and those who helped with the campaign, and said regardless of the outcome the race brought people together.

“No matter what happens tonight, we are all winners,” Apalla said. “I’m pumped right now, we had a great turnout this year and everyone in this room worked so hard.”