Less than an hour after Tulsi Gabbard said her farewell to the Honolulu City Council on Wednesday, former Councilman Jon Yoshimura was signing up to run for the seat. Two other urban Honolulu residents had joined him by the end of the day, while several others continued to voice interest.
The Council voted 8-1 to approve a plan to hold a special election for someone to fill the remaining two years on Gabbard’s term. Candidates for Council District 6, which runs from Makiki to Aiea Heights, have until Aug. 31 to place their names on the ballot in the winner-take-all election.
Gabbard won the Aug. 11 Democratic primary for the 2nd Congressional District seat and is considered a heavy favorite against Hilo resident Kawika Crowley, the Republican candidate. She resigned last week so her replacement could be chosen in conjunction with the scheduled Nov. 6 general election. An independent election would have cost the city an estimated $150,000, city officials said.
Council Chairman Ernie Martin and Gabbard’s other colleagues gave her an honorary certificate in recognition of her work during two years on the Council. Afterward, Councilman Tom Berg questioned the propriety of holding the special election early, arguing that the city’s 2010 Reapportionment Commission’s new district plans were deeply flawed.
Minutes after the vote to approve the special election timetable, Yoshimura was in the city clerk’s office filling out paperwork to be the first candidate in the race. Yoshimura held the seat from 1995 to 2002.
Two others filed Wednesday: Ryan Kapuniai, who finished third in the Democratic primary for House District 26 (Downtown-Kakaako-McCully), and Pauoa Realtor Robert Vieira.
Also a confirmed candidate is community activist Christopher "Nova" Smith, an early supporter of the Occupy Honolulu movement.
State Sen. Carol Fukunaga, who lost in the Democratic primary to a fellow senator, Brian Taniguchi, said she is still contemplating a run for the seat, as is state Rep. John Mizuno.
State Rep. Karl Rhoads, defeated 2nd Congressional District candidate Esther Kia‘aina and Democratic Party Oahu Chairman Bixby Ho said they have decided to not run for the seat.
