Candidates Begin Filing in Hilo

WHT: …First in line after the 7:45 a.m. office opening in Hilo was state Rep. Joy San Buenaventura, a Democrat representing Puna’s District 4. San Buenaventura had two reasons to be an early bird getting her papers to run for reelection.

“I have to catch a flight to Honolulu to get to the session,” she said. “And there have been rumors that I was going to go for another seat. I wanted to allay those rumors.”

Close behind was Wendell Kaehuaea, who is running for mayor. Another eager mayoral candidate, Shannon K.K. McCandless, was one of the first to file on the west side of the island. The nonpartisan mayoral seat is also sought by three other announced candidates who have not yet pulled papers: former county Managing Director Wally Lau, former Kohala Councilman Pete Hoffmann and Kawika Crowley.

In all, 12 would-be candidates pulled papers Monday. The candidate filing period runs through June 7. Polls open for early voting Aug. 1, with primary Election Day on Aug. 13.

Besides McCandless, potential candidates pulling papers in the Kona office were incumbent Kona Councilman Dru Kanuha, incumbent North Kona Councilwoman Karen Eoff and incumbent South Kona/Ka‘u Councilwoman Maile David. All seek reelection to their nonpartisan seats.

Hilo would-be candidates, in addition to San Buenaventura and Keahuaea, were Maui resident Eric Hafner, running as a Republican challenger to the 2nd Congressional District seat now held by Democrat Tulsi Gabbard; Hilo Councilman Greggor Ilagan challenging fellow Democrat state Sen. Russell Ruderman for the District 2 Senate seat; former Hawaii County Democratic Party Chairman David Tarnas challenging fellow Democrat state Rep. Cindy Evans for the District 7 House seat; William Halversen seeking the nonpartisan County Council District 2 seat; Susan Lee Loy seeking the District 3 County Council seat; and Puna Councilman Daniel Paleka, seeking reelection to his District 5 seat….

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PULLED PAPERS ON MAUI

MONDAY as of 2:45 pm--The office of the Maui County Clerk reports the following candidates have pulled nomination papers:
Robert Carroll, Maui Council, E. Maui, Non Partisan
Antonio Gimbernat, US Senate, Democrat
Stacey S. Moniz, Maui Council UpCountry, Non Partisan
Napua Greig Nakasone, Maui Council UpCountry, Non Partisan
Keith Regan, Maui Council Wailuku, Non Partisan
Alex Haller, State House 13 (E. Maui Molokai Lanai) Democrat
Deidre Tegarden, State House 11 (S. Maui) Democrat
Yuki Lei Sugimura, Maui Council UpCounty, Non Partisan 

MORE: Campaign 2016: Dozens of Politicians Pull Papers in First Week