Posted on: Friday, June 14, 2002

Ex-police chief joins council race

Advertiser Staff

Former Honolulu police chief Mike Nakamura yesterday joined the race for City Council, running for the new Council District 9, which includes Waikele, Waipahu, Village Park, Makakilo, Kunia and Mililani Town.

Nakamura, 55, was elected to the Board of Education in 2000; his term expires in November.

He retired from the police force in 1997 after serving as chief beginning in 1990. He is best known for encouraging more police involvement at the neighborhood levels through community policing programs and other projects.

State Rep. Nestor Garcia has also indicated he is planning to run for the same seat.

Nakamura, a Mililani resident, said his priorities would be public safety, financial accountability, and transportation in general and particularly for the disabled.

"Because I ride the Handi-Van every day, I know the problems of the disabled," said Nakamura, who has a degenerative nerve disease and uses a motorized scooter.