Posted on: Sunday, September 22, 2002

Big Isle council races quickly pared down

By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

HILO, Hawai'i — Four members of the Hawai'i County Council who faced no opposition were re-elected outright yesterday and three more appeared headed to outright election by capturing more than 50 percent of the vote in early returns.

This is Hawai'i County's first nonpartisan council election.

In the 1st District race in Hamakua and rural Hilo, former Councilman Takashi Domingo and retired emergency room physician Fred Holschuh advanced to the general election.

"I am obviously pleased thus far. If this holds up, I will be overjoyed," said Holschuh, who had lost in his first two bids for public office.

Domingo, who has never been defeated, was not available for comment.

In the 6th District race in Puna and Ka'u, newcomer Brenda Domondon and Bob Jacobson, husband of retiring Councilwoman Julie Jacobson, advanced to the general election.

Domondon, 55, is a coffee farmer and Jacobson, 49, is a retired registered nurse. She held a small lead in the first returns.

The council members who were re-elected outright were Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd, Jimmy Arakaki and Aaron Chung from Hilo, who previously ran as Democrats, and Curtis Tyler III from Kona, who previously ran as a Republican. Three incumbents on the council chose not to seek another term.

Hamakua's Dominic Yagong left to pursue a business career. He endorsed Holschuh as his replacement instead of Domingo, whom he succeeded six years ago.

Puna's Jacobson, elected as a Green Party candidate four years ago, decided to leave for family reasons.

Nancy Pisicchio of South Kona, who defeated Republican Joe Reynolds four years ago, left for private reasons. Reynolds was running ahead in early returns last night.

Waimea's Leningrad Elarionoff, a retired policeman, was ahead of two challengers in a bid for a third term for the Kohala seat. He could face a runoff with Eddie Akana.