With about eight weeks left to file for Honolulu elected office, the mayor, the city prosecutor and five City Council members up for re-election have only token opposition, and in many cases, appear to be running virtually unopposed.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann, with more than $2 million in his campaign war chest, looks likely to sail into a second term. The four candidates who have filed to run against him have zero campaign funds and little name recognition.

City Council members Todd K. Apo, council chair Barbara Marshall, Ann H. Kobayashi, Romy M. Cachola and Nestor R. Garcia don't yet have any declared opponents.

That's also the case for city prosecutor Peter Carlisle, who is running for a fourth term.

If candidates did step forward, they would have no shortage of hot topics to debate. The city's controversial plan to build a $3.7 billion elevated commuter rail system, the increased tax to pay for the rail, the overflowing city landfill, the rising sewer fees, the number of potholes on city streets and the growing homeless population are all fodder for political discussion.

VARIETY OF BARRIERS

Several community members, including some who oppose the transit plan, have informally discussed running for city office, but as of yet no one has formally filed.

Barriers to potential candidates include the large geographic size of the council districts — which forces candidates to canvass over a big area — as well as the power of incumbency and the financial networking that comes with it.

The deadline for candidates to declare for office is July 22. The primary election is Sept. 20 and the general election is Nov. 4.

Hannemann said despite the lack of serious opposition, his campaign will be bringing its "A game" to the election season.

"I know only one way to run and that is to run as an underdog," Hannemann said in a telephone interview with The Advertiser. "I'm not going to sit back for a second and think that this is the final slate of candidates. Politics is a fickle game and I will not rest on my laurels."

Hannemann is gearing up to run a competitive race. "We're planning and we are organizing and we're going to be good to go," he said. "In the past when I ran I had to run on a resume and promises. Now I will run on my record. You can't judge me on one issue. Look at all the issues and ask yourself the question, 'Is the city better off today then it was 3 1/2 years ago?' I say, 'Yes.'"

But while none of the candidates is counting out the last-minute appearance of a strong challenger, some political observers say it's odd that no one has stepped forward at this point.

"It's a bit surprising," said Neal Milner, a political scientist and ombudsman at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. "Even though incumbency is a big advantage, I still would have expected more opposition. It's not like the City Council has looked so good this year, especially on mass transit. That seems to be the most visible issue. It's an issue that generates a lot of press and discussion."

Ira Rohter, also a political scientist at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa, said what he views as a strong performance by Hannemann during his first term, coupled with the powers of incumbency, have scared off any credible candidate contemplating a challenge.

But what's perplexing, Rohter said, is that no one is stepping up to unseat incumbent City Council members during difficult economic times and with controversial issues aplenty.

"Hannemann has performed well under such scrutiny but the council, good Lord, those guys are somewhere in the area of George W. Bush," as far as approval ratings, Rohter said.

Still, challenging an office holder is an uphill battle.

"An incumbent has such extreme name familiarity; they are at the neighborhood boards, they are in the community, on television, and add into that their ability to raise money from special interest and what sane person runs against them?" said Rohter.

Rohter, however, said the recent rail debate has not cast council members in the best light, and it's surprising no one has capitalized on that and made a run.

"The council, in particular, they have constantly been portrayed as kindergarten buffoons and this vacillation on the rail issue is amazing. If you're bored with television go down to Honolulu Hale and watch a hearing on a controversial issue. It's comical," he said. "There is a common perception that they are not the best and brightest, although there are some good ones down there, but you would think that someone would come out in a democracy and provide opposition."

PUBLIC APATHY

Rohter says the lack of council opposition is indicative of public apathy toward the political process. Potential challengers who may have good ideas are unwilling to participate given the public perception of what it takes to win an election in Hawai'i.

"I think the average person is absolutely disgusted with the kind of money it takes to buy into politics," Rohter said. "Look at the economy, people are freaking out about energy, we have the lowest ranked healthcare system among developed nations, things are grim yet no one wants to step up," he said. "A lot of us don't go down to City Hall or the Legislature because we think it doesn't matter. The average person feels their voice isn't heard and the system is out of control."

Hannemann spent roughly $2 million, while his opponent, Duke Bainum, spent $4 million, in the 2004 mayoral election.

The average contested City Council race can cost upwards of $100,000, said Rohter.

Several special interest groups — fueled with money from taxi cab owners, tour bus operators, and private businessmen opposed to rail transit — are trying to get anti-rail candidates to run for mayor. The effort has been unsuccessful to date.

Cliff Slater, the retired founder of Maui Divers Jewelry and an ardent anti-rail activist, said he and others are trying to convince University of Hawai'i transportation engineering professor Panos D. Prevedouros, a rail critic, to piggyback on the anti-rail initiative and challenge Hannemann.

SWAYING THE ENGINEER

"We would like to see Panos run but whether we can persuade him to do that it remains to be seen. He's a civil engineer, and the last engineer we had as mayor was Johnny Wilson (who served three times between 1920 and 1954), and back then we didn't have the infrastructure problems we have today," said Slater. "Running a (city) government is very difficult when so much of it is out of your control. Someone like Panos would not put up with nonsense like above-ground sewer lines and rail transit."

Prevedouros, who was attending an international transportation conference in Athens last week, has not filed the necessary paperwork to run.

In an e-mail, he said he will decide on a run by the end of June.

"I have been giving speeches to Rotary and similar clubs for many months and the question of running for mayor comes up routinely," said Prevedouros, who is also president of the Hawai'i Highway Users Alliance, which advocates for rail alternatives such as high-occupancy traffic lanes, overpasses and traffic signal optimization.

"It is a fact that nearly all of our city's challenges with traffic, transit, water, sewer, and pavement quality are civil engineering issues that are best addressed by an expert than by a politician. However, I have not made up my mind to join in what is likely to be a rather difficult campaign."

Hannemann said it's not viable to run on a single issue and an anti-transit candidate doesn't have "any legs."

KOBAYASHI STAYS PUT

Council member Kobayashi said many of her constituents who oppose the rail project have asked her to run for mayor.

But Kobayashi says she remains focused on seeking re-election to her district, which includes a portion of Kapahulu and Kaimuki, Palolo Valley, St. Louis Heights, Manoa, Mo'ili'ili, McCully, Kaka'ako, and a portion of Ala Moana and Makiki.

"Many people have asked me to run for mayor and it's made me pause to think about it but I'm looking at running for re-election (to my council seat)," Kobayashi said.

Four people have formally filed to run against Hannemann, although none has received any campaign contributions so far.

Daniel H. Cunningham, Donavon D. Kambel, Miles F. Shiratori and Michael E. Simpson have put in papers to enter the mayoral race.

Cunningham, an unemployed chiropractor, said he won't need any money during his bid to unseat Hannemann.

"I intend to run on the merits," said Cunningham. "I think we as a civilization need to look at a floating capacity and need to look at nuclear technology. Nuclear fusion and fission are integral to the universe," he said, citing his chief campaign platforms.

Kambel, a disabled 12-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, said he's motivated to make a play because of what he perceives as inefficient use of city taxpayer dollars.

"The budget's really blown to heck. This rail system, we should have a referendum on this. That's an expensive item to just buy," said Kambel, who worked on an aircraft hydraulics flight line while in the Air Force. "A lot of people like who I am and what I do for them. I know how to save money, I did it for the (federal) government."