LIHU‘E — Get a taste of who is running for the 2021-2023 Kaua‘i County Council at a virtual forum tomorrow.
Of the 21 candidates running for a council seat, 16 are participating at the forum sponsored by Just Transition Hawai‘i Coalition, Community Coalition of Kaua‘i and 350Kaua‘i Climate Action Coalition.
The three-round forum will include topics like agriculture, housing and land-use in the first round; economic diversity, the economy and budget questions the second round; and in the last, candidates will tackle social and environmental topics and welfare equity.
“We had to be a little creative,” Laurel Brier, a co-coordinator, said on Monday.
All seven councilmember seats are up for grabs, with eligible incumbents Mason Chock, Felicia Cowden, Luke Evslin, Arryl Kaneshiro, KipuKai Kuali‘i running for reelection and participating in tomorrow’s forum.
There will not be long introductions, instead a two-sentence background statement to be read by the host, Brier explained.
Candidates were given some questions in advance to provide thoughtful answers and have an opportunity for a one-minute wrap up, Brier said. The group hopes to host at least two more forums, one in July and one after the primary in August when the field is narrowed down to 14.
“Take advantage and get educated on who is running,” Brier said.
Participating candidates: Jade Wai‘ale‘ale Battad, Addison Bulosan, Donovan Cabebe, Mason Chock, Felicia Cowden, Mike Dandurand, Debralynn DeSilva Carveiro, Luke Evslin, Victoria Franks, Richard Fukushima, Ed Justus, Arryl Kaneshiro, Kipukai Kuali‘i, Wally Nishimura, Rory Parker and Clint Yago Sr.
Those who will not be present are: Donovan Kanani Cabebe, Bernard Carvalho, Billy De Costa, Jakki Nelson, Shirley Simbre-Medeiros and Naomi Taniguchi.
The forum, to be held via Zoom and posted to Facebook after, will take place Wednesday, June 10 from 6-8:30 p.m. It’s part of a week-long candidate forum, one day for each island.
Registration for the forum can be found at bit.ly/2zuOaKe, or to listen without registration, go to bit.ly/2z5FXfh.
This story was updated on June 9 at 9:45 a.m. to correct Jade Wai‘ale‘ale Battad’s name and remove John Hoff from the excluded candidates list. Hoff has not filed papers for a council seat.
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Sabrina Bodon, public safety and government reporter, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.
