LIHU‘E — Harry E. Williams of Princeville is officially a Republican candidate for the state House seat encompassing Wailua to Ha‘ena, a judge ruled this morning. Fifth Circuit Judge Randal Valenciano said the Republican Party of Hawai‘i followed the rules
LIHU‘E — Harry E. Williams of Princeville is officially a Republican candidate for the state House seat encompassing Wailua to Ha‘ena, a judge ruled this morning.
Fifth Circuit Judge Randal Valenciano said the Republican Party of Hawai‘i followed the rules which allowed them to select Williams to replace David Hamman after Hamman filed for, then withdrew from, the race as a Republican candidate for the state House seat held for 14 years by state Rep. Mina Morita, a Democrat from Hanalei Valley.
Hamman, of Princeville, then filed papers to run for the vacant state Senate seat covering all of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau.
“Mr. Williams is an appropriate candidate” for the House seat even though Hamman did not properly complete his House-candidacy forms, said Valenciano.
Hamman did not sign either the oath of loyalty or affirmation as required on his nomination papers, but because Deputy County Clerk Eddie Topenio signed and accepted the papers, Hamman became an official candidate, Valenciano said.
“Which in my opinion makes his documents null and void,” said Harold Bronstein, representing Steven Nishimura in Nishimura’s capacity as chair of the Democratic Party of Kaua‘i.
Hamman’s filing, then withdrawing, opened up a three-day window for the Republican Party of Hawai‘i to find a replacement candidate, they did, Williams, and Williams filed the required paperwork within the three days, Valenciano said in dismissing Nishimura’s complaint against Williams as a legitimate candidate.
See Wednesday’s print edition of The Garden Island for the complete story.
∫ Paul C. Curtis, assistant editor and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com.
