Former mayoral candidate Panos Prevedouros said yesterday he has a court date in mid-November to settle a 2-year-old traffic case.

Prevedouros said that when he learned that a 2006 traffic citation was still outstanding and a contempt of court warrant had been issued, he went to the police to settle the matter.

Prevedouros, 47, was arrested Friday on the misdemeanor contempt warrant, posted $250 bail and was released, according to police arrest records.

According to court records, Prevedouros was pulled over Nov. 15, 2006, in Kailua, in part because he was allegedly exceeding the 25 mph speed limit.

Instead of showing up for court, Prevedouros sent a letter to the judge saying that he could not attend because, "I am one of experts that have been appointed to the seven-member Council Advisory Transit Task Force," according to court records.

He asked if he could reschedule for January 2007.

A bench warrant was issued for his arrest on Dec. 18, 2006, when he failed to appear in court.

He said he never heard anything more about the case and was surprised to learn that a bench warrant had been issued.

Prevedouros ran unsuccessfully in the September primary for Honolulu mayor, coming in third behind Mayor Mufi Hannemann and City Councilwoman Ann H. Kobayashi.

Prevedouros has since given his support to Kobayashi.