HILO » The Hawaii County clerk won’t evaluate a complaint that a County Council candidate isn’t qualified to represent the Puna district because she claimed a homeowner’s property tax exemption on a Hilo home.

The complaint against Tiffany Edwards Hunt was filed after the June 10 deadline for candidate objections, County Clerk Stewart Maeda told the Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Sativa Sultan, who shares a home with RJ Hampton, who is also running for the Puna seat, filed the complaint on Monday.

The exemption provides a tax break for owner-occupied properties by reducing their tax assessment.

Edwards Hunt said she has owned the Hilo home since 2004 but moved to her current house, owned by her husband, in Hawaiian Acres in about 2006. He doesn’t claim an exemption.

Edwards Hunt said she wasn’t aware the tax break was still in effect and that she might be getting a discount while not meeting the qualifications. The exemption renews automatically unless changed by the owner.