Former state Rep. Cindy Evans plans to run for County Council, while Kohala Councilman Tim Richards plans to run for state Senate. Meanwhile, former Sen. Malama Solomon is angling for a seat as trustee for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
Big Island politics becomes a game of musical chairs during election years, and, with the first week of candidate qualifying begun in a process that is not yet open to state legislative and U.S. House seats, 2022 is turning out to be no exception.
Candidates for County Council, U.S. Senate, governor, lieutenant governor and Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee began the qualification process Monday. The Hawaii Supreme Court issued an order bifurcating the process of pulling nomination papers after a group filed a lawsuit challenging the results of the decennial redistricting process by the state Reapportionment Commission.
The court is expected to rule in the coming weeks. Candidates have until June 7 to complete the process.
Evans, a Democrat, represented House District 7 from 2003 to 2018. She was majority floor leader, chaired the Water & Land Committee, Public Safety and Military Affairs and Business and Economic Development She was vice chairwoman for the Energy and Environmental Protection and Education committees.
Evans is the only candidate pulling papers for the nonpartisan Kohala Council District 9 seat thus far, according to the candidate report released Friday evening by the state Office of Elections.
“At this time, we face many uncertainties and opportunities. Hawaii Islanders have always been resilient and to move forward together, we need progress that is affordable, practical and improves the quality of life for everyone,” Evans said in a campaign announcement. “County government plays a critical role in setting the stage for people to succeed. I’m entering this race motivated and above all, ready to listen to all, identify priorities and to get results.”
Kohala Councilman Tim Richards, who is not yet term-limited, in December announced his intention to vacate the seat in order to run for the North Hawaii District 4 Senate seat once the map boundary lines become finalized. If the court agrees with the lines drawn by the state commission, incumbent Sen. Lorraine Inouye, like Richards, a Democrat, will move to the Hilo District 1 seat, where she faces fellow Democrat Sen. Laura Acasio, whom Gov. David Ige appointed to fill the vacant seat last year.
“I want to assure Council District 9 that I won’t forget my roots. I have long been an advocate for agriculture land management and stewardship water management and stewardship seeking energy development,” Richards said in his announcement, adding he sought to move “to a bigger stage, pushing for a better economy and the self-reliant agriculture that we all talk about but really need to see.”
Solomon, a Democrat representing Senate District 4 from 2010 to 2014, pulled nomination papers for a nonpartisan OHA at-large seat. Also running for one of the three at-large seats so far is Kealii Makekau of Honolulu.
In other West Hawaii council races, incumbents Rebecca Villegas, District 7, and Holeka Inaba, District 8, are the only candidates to pull papers so far. In Hamakua Council District 1, incumbent Heather Kimball is so far the sole candidate.
Hilo Council District 2, one of only two seats with term-limited incumbents, is proving to be a popular choice, with five candidates pulling nomination papers the first week. They are: Maurice Goulding, William Halversen, Jenn Kagiwada, Matthias Kusch and Timothy (TK) Wehrsig. The seat is being vacated by Councilman Aaron Chung.
The sprawling Council District 6, running from Captain Cook to Volcano, is also an open seat now that incumbent Councilwoman Maile David is term-limited. The four candidates so far are: Michelle Galimba, Shane Palacat-Nelson, Courtney Provance and Chrissy Yeaman Carbonie.