Nonpartisan Races - Honolulu City Council

STAR-BULLETIN / 2001 Most of the other City Council faces will have changed from this 2001 scene — but Duke Bainum, fourth from left, will reappear on the new Council. Bainum, to represent Manoa-McCully, is shown here with former Councilmembers Andy Mirikitani, left, Steve Holmes, fifth from left, and Rene Mansho, second from right in back.

The Honolulu Democrat is running unopposed for the seat vacated by Ann Kobayashi’s run for mayor

The Honolulu City Council is gaining a familiar face: former City Councilman Duke Bainum.

Bainum, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor against Mufi Hannemann in a heated 2004 campaign, is the only candidate in an uncontested race for a City Council seat in the upcoming primary election.

The main question remains: Where has Bainum been for the last four years?

“I’ve been a Hawaii resident all this time,” Bainum emphasized repeatedly in a recent interview. “I’ve spent months on the mainland in Arkansas (his home state) and Maryland. My mother is 84 years old. I had to make sure she was taken care of. We maintained a residence in Hawaii and paid taxes in Hawaii.”

On the last day to file for candidacy, Bainum rented an apartment in the Marco Polo condominium, which qualifies him to run for mayoral candidate Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi’s seat representing McCully to Manoa. Bainum also owns property in Kakaako and Kahala, which he said he plans to renovate and rent.

While Bainum is guaranteed a seat on the divisive City Council — as long as he gets one vote in the primary election — the four other incumbents seeking re-election are facing challengers, though none of them has well-known political experience.

Council Chairwoman Barbara Marshall’s competition includes Wilson “Kekoa” Ho, a Waimanalo Neighborhood Board member, and Leigh Prentiss.

“There are going to be grave decisions to be made within the next two years,” Ho said. “You can sit there and not doing anything or stand up and be accountable. I’m running to give voters another choice for a candidate.”

Councilman Romy Cachola is facing challenges from Lillian Hong and Lynn Vasquez-Dela Cerna. Councilman Nestor Garcia will campaign against Emil Svrcina and Lance Widner. Councilman Todd Apo’s lone contender is Garry Smith.