City schedules Jan. 26 special election
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser City Hall Writer
Beginning today, individuals interested in filling the Honolulu City Council seat left vacant by convicted felon Andy Mirikitani can file to run in the Jan. 26 special election.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
Mirikitani is scheduled to be sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor. The former councilman, who retired Saturday, was convicted July 3 on felony public corruption counts of theft, bribery, extortion, wire fraud and witness tampering. His sentencing was delayed Tuesday.
Andy Mirikitani is retired since he was convicted in July.
Yesterday, seven of the City Council's remaining eight members approved the timetable for filling the vacancy. Mirikitani's desk has been removed until his replacement is elected.
A special election will determine who will fill the rest of the term, which expires Jan. 2, 2003. Registered voters who live in Manoa, Mo'ili'ili, McCully, Tantalus, Makiki, Pawa'a, Ala Moana and Kewalo will be able to vote at 19 polling places or by absentee ballot.
Residents have until Dec. 27 to register. City Clerk Genny Wong said about 36,000 voters have been active in recent elections in that district. If past special elections are an indicator, Wong said, a little more than half of them could be expected to vote.
Council Chairman Jon Yoshimura said that he and other council members as well as Mirikitani's remaining two staff members will help in addressing district concerns. "I assure the constituents in District 5 they are being represented," Yoshimura said.
Council member John Henry Felix was in England and not available to attend the meeting. Interviewed by phone, Felix compared Mirikitani's downfall to a Greek tragedy. "He started out with such high hopes and such great expectations."
Felix said Mirikitani let himself down "and, more importantly, he let down his constituents."
The election is expected to cost between $225,000 and $250,000. The winner could be sworn in as early as Feb. 15. Council members earn $43,350 a year.
The race has attracted some familiar faces: former state Sen. Ann Kobayashi has been considering the race and businessman Sam Aiona said he will seek the seat.
Aiona, who served in the state House from 1996 to 1998, said: "I think that my legislative experience will help with the City Council. What we really need is someone with honesty and integrity who's going to work hard for the people."
