2 familiar faces make finals for Kaua'i mayor

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — County Council veterans Bryan Baptiste and Ron Kouchi will face off in the general election for Kaua'i mayor, ensuring a familiar face at the top when Mayor Maryanne Kusaka leaves after serving out her limit of two four-year terms.

Fellow Councilman Randal Valenciano and accountant Dennis Nimkie failed to make the cut.

Baptiste and Kouchi were close in the final tally, and one issue in the upcoming race is where third-place candidate Valenciano's vote will go. Although the race is technically nonpartisan, both Valenciano and Kouchi are Democrats, and Valenciano said last night that he intended to support the Democratic candidate. Baptiste is a Republican.

Baptiste said his campaign will continue to emphasize an inclusive theme. He said he wants to create neighborhood boards and assign Cabinet members to be the administration's liaisons to each community. Residents seem to respond well to the offer to get involved in government, he said.

Kouchi, who stressed his long experience as a councilman and council chairman, said his campaign has tried to take positions on issues facing the county. "I think people are looking for leadership," he said.

In the Kaua'i County Council race, where only three incumbents were running for seven seats, voters sought out familiar faces, placing a former mayor and a former council member alongside the incumbents among the top vote-getters. Fourteen of 29 candidates move on to the general election.

In yesterday's voting, incumbents Kaipo Asing, Jimmy Tokioka and Daryl Kaneshiro were joined by former council members Joe Munechika and JoAnn Yukimura, who is also a former mayor. Former Councilman John Barretto was also in the middle of the pack that will move forward.

New faces with the strongest showing included hotel manager Jay Furfaro, former police officer Mel Rapozo, firefighter Ernest Moniz Jr. and political activist Ray Chuan.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 245-3074.