Most politicians hopeful of securing a seat in county, state or federal government will have to wait until the votes are tallied from the Nov. 7 general election. But not incumbent Mayor Bryan Baptiste. Following a legal review with the
Most politicians hopeful of securing a seat in county, state or federal government will have to wait until the votes are tallied from the Nov. 7 general election.
But not incumbent Mayor Bryan Baptiste.
Following a legal review with the County Attorney’s Office, county clerk Peter Nakamura yesterday declared Bryan Baptiste the winner of not only Saturday’s primary, but also of the mayor’s seat.
In a news release, Nakamura said the Republican incumbent won at least 50 percent of the vote plus one, all that was required to beat Democratic challenger Jesse Fukushima.
“At this point, we have won the election,” Baptiste told reporters during a meeting at the Lihu‘e Civic Center yesterday, adding he plans to move forward on solutions for many of Kaua‘i’s biggest problems — affordable housing, homelessness, drugs and traffic.
“We now look forward to focusing our full energy back to the important work at hand,” Baptiste said in a news release.
Had blank election ballots been counted, Baptiste would not have won the race and would have had to face Fukushima in the general election.
Nakamura said the blank votes and over votes were not counted when election officials counted the majority of the votes cast.
Baptiste needed 8,172 out of a possible 16,342 possible votes to win, and he garnered 8,173 votes.
“It was gravy,” Baptiste said of the additional vote that secured his victory.
Fukushima declined to comment yesterday, saying only, “I need to look at the opinion.”
Fukushima has until Friday — six days after the election — to challenge the results through an appeal with the Hawai‘i Supreme Court. The state will certify the results after Friday if there are no legal challenges.
Martin Rice, who heads the Kaua‘i County Democratic Party, said yesterday a legal challenge is premature, and the party will release a statement “when we get to that point.”
He said he had questions about the second and third printouts of the results, but declined to elaborate.
“This is another example of America getting stolen vote by vote,” Rice said.
Baptiste said his victory may be the first of its kind for Kaua‘i County.
“To get more than 50 percent in a primary with five candidates is a very difficult thing to do,” he said.
Baptiste contested Fukushima, Bruce Pleas, John Hoff and Janee M. Taylor for the island’s highest public office.
Baptiste said he carried all 21 election precincts on Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau, and even if he hadn’t won, his supporters were ready to continue to campaign for him.
Supporters met Sunday and Monday and were ready to step up the effort, Baptiste said.
Baptiste said his victory indicates he is doing what the public wants.
While the victory means Baptiste can cease campaigning, he is taking it one step further, removing himself from the elections altogether by saying he will not endorse any candidates for the state Legislature or County Council.
• Lester Chang, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) or lchang@kauaipubco.com.
