June 2 is the filing deadline for prospective candidates interested in running in the upcoming 2020 elections. Those who might be interested in entering the race for County Council, state House of Representatives or the state Senate, need to have by the end of that day gathered the required signatures and have them confirmed by the office of elections.
The primary election is on Saturday, Aug. 8. Unless someone files on June 2 or earlier, Kaua‘i state Senator (and Senate President) Ronald Kouchi (D) will have no opposition and be getting a free ride, all the way through and beyond November. This is every incumbent’s dream, as no opposition means no campaign. It also frees up the person to help fundraise and assist other candidates while not having to worry about their own race.
Similarly, but not quite so sweet, are the current positions of state Reps. Nadine Nakamura (District 14, Wailua Houselots, Kapa‘a, Anahola, Kilauea, Hanalei and beyond), James Tokioka (District 15, Wailua Homesteads, Hanama‘ulu, Lihu‘e, Puhi, ‘Oma‘o, parts of Koloa), and Dee Morikawa (District 16, Ni‘ihau, Hanapepe, Waimea and Kekaha and portions of Koloa).
All three of Kaua‘i’s representatives to the state House are Democrats and have no opposition from other Democrats, so they may also get a free ride in the primary election.
For the Tuesday, Nov. 4th general election, Republican Steve Monas has filed to run against Nakamura, while Ana Mo Des has pulled papers but not yet filed to run against Morikawa, and the chair of the Kaua‘i Republican Party, Steve Yoder, has also pulled papers but not yet filed, to run against Tokioka.
So unless a Democrat steps up to challenge them prior to June 2, Kaua‘i’s three incumbent representatives will sail through unopposed in the primary, but likely be challenged by Republicans on November. 4.
While I am presently vice chair of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, I believe that competitive primary elections are a good thing. No incumbent wants to hear this, but competition makes us all better, and Hawai‘i is essentially a single-party state, with very little political competition. The Republican Party has a presence, as does the Green Party, the Libertarian Party and now the newly formed Aloha Aina Party, but none have grown to be a force sufficient to challenge the entrenchment of incumbents elected under the Democratic Party banner.
The consequence of such dominance, in my personal and unofficial opinion, is that too many of those who serve in public office and label themselves as Democrats are, in actuality, Democrats in name only, or DINOs.
The state Legislature, now dominated by Democrats, fails year after year to support the party’s core legislative priorities. The legislatures leadership, composed entirely of Democrats, are known to block, dilute, and often outright kill legislative initiatives in support of environmental protection and economic justice.
In addition to the partisan-based state House and Senate races, there will also be an interesting Kaua‘i County Council election. In all counties, the elections of councilmembers and mayors are conducted via a nonpartisan process. While most if not all members of the various councils belong to a political party, there is no such identification on the ballot, and the primary election is not party-specific for those offices.
On August 8 the field of council candidates will be trimmed to the top 14 vote-getters. Seven councilmembers will ultimately be elected in November.
Of the seven incumbent councilmembers, Vice Chair Ross Kagawa is “termed out” and cannot run for reelection, and Arthur Brun is in a federal jail on O‘ahu, and it’s unlikely he will run for reelection.
There are 19 names on the official candidate list so far, with more to come.
As of May 26, the candidates who have pulled papers and filed, in alphabetical order by last names, are Addison Bulosan, Addison; Donovan Kanani Cabebe, Bob Cariffe, incumbent Mason K. Chock, incumbent Felicia Cowden, Mike Dandurand, Debralynn Desilva Carveiro, incumbent Luke A. Evslin, Victoria Franks, Richard S. Fukushima, Ed Justus, incumbent and Chair Arryl Kaneshiro, incumbent Kipukai L.P. Kuali‘i, Jacquelyn “Jakki” Nelson, Rory P. Parker, Shriley R. Simbre-Medeiros, Naomi J. “Omi” Taniguchi, Clint Yago Sr. and JoAnn A. Yukimura.
Other names in the rumor mill not currently on the list include former Councilmember Melvin Rapozo and former Mayor Bernard Carvalho.
Given the history and current status, it is likely that 20 to 25 candidates will be on the August 8 ballot for council, of which 14 will survive to go on to the general election in November.
The COVID-19 situation has changed the way campaigns are being run in the short term, with zero door-to-door campaigning, no traditional political rallies and minimal sign-waving on the highway. This gives those with existing name recognition a huge advantage. After the primary, as the island continues to open up, new candidates who do survive the cut will have a few months at least to catch up, build their own base and possibly finish in the top seven.
My hope is that Kaua‘i residents will continue to step up and run for office. The more choice we can give our community, the better the outcome. My further hope is that all will get involved at some level, researching the candidates and issues, picking a campaign, donating a little money and volunteering to help. New candidates especially need funding assistance to purchase signs and do the mailings necessary to get the word out.
Being actively involved in the political process is key to holding those elected accountable.
Ensuring that you actually vote on August 8 is, of course, most important. This year it will be an all mail-in ballot process. Do not expect to go to your traditional polling place to cast your vote because it will be closed. But this is another story.
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Gary Hooser formerly served in the state Senate, where he was majority leader. He also served for eight years on the Kaua‘i County Council, and was the former director of the state Office of Environmental Quality Control. He serves presently in a volunteer capacity as board president of the Hawai‘i Alliance for Progressive Action and executive director of the Pono Hawai‘i Initiative.
