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Two staunch opponents of a controversial ordinance that regulates the use of pesticides and genetically modified crops on the Garden Island garnered the most votes in the Kauai County Council’s seven-seat race.
Councilmen Mel Rapozo and Ross Kagawa led all challengers, while Councilman Gary Hooser just made the cut. Councilman Tim Bynum, who co-introduced Bill 2491 (Ordinance 960) with Hooser, failed to garner enough votes to retain his seat.
"The silent majority is the majority," Kagawa said. Isle residents are not necessarily against the measure but want to see facts concerning pesticides and GMO regulation rather than taking drastic measures against seed companies, he said.
Hooser said he was pleased to retain his Council seat and plans to continue battling the seed industry. "Moving forward, there are serious issues with the seed industry that have to be dealt with."
Incumbents JoAnn Yukimura and Mason Chock also pulled enough votes to continue serving on the Council. Council chairman Jay Furfaro did not make the cut.
KipuKai Kualii and Arryl Kaneshiro will serve as the two new members on the Council.
In October 2013, Mayor Bernard Carvalho vetoed Bill 2491, describing it as legally flawed. The County Council voted 5-2 to override his veto. Rapozo and Kagawa voted against overriding Carvalho’s veto.
A federal judge has since ruled the ordinance is invalid. The case is on appeal.
Carvalho, 52, won his bid to continue leading Kauai County over opponent Dustin Barca, 32. "I’m just elated," Carvalho said.
He has said he always supported disclosure and buffer zones in the debate over pesticide use but sought further community discussion on the issue.
"As mayor you have to look at the whole issue at hand," he said.
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