Neighbor island mayors and councils - Big Island, Kauai And Maui Counties

KAPAA, Kauai » Kauai County Councilmembers Mel Rapozo and JoAnn Yukimura, as well as county Parks and Recreation Director Bernard Carvalho, were all expected to run for mayor in 2010.

Bill Asing: Interim mayor will seek back Council seat

But Kauai Mayor Bryan Baptiste’s death in June moved all their timetables up two years and has led to a scramble to the special election, which will be part of the regular election cycle this year.

Rapozo, a former Kauai police officer, has been on the Council since 2002, currently serving as its vice chairman.

Yukimura, mayor of Kauai during Hurricane Iniki, was originally elected to the Council in 1976. She has served on the Council since 2002.

Carvalho, a former football star at the University of Hawaii, has steadily worked his way up through the county system after starting in an entry- level position in 1985.

They are joined by Rolf Beiber, a computer technician at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, who decided to run for office at the urging of his children, he said recently.

Rapozo and Yukimura’s absence on the Council, as well as Councilwoman Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho’s decision to run unopposed for county prosecutor, has left the race for the seven at-large County Council seats wide open.

There are 22 people running for the seven spots, including five incumbents — sort of.

Bill “Kaipo” Asing, named the interim mayor until the election, will look to get back his Council seat, as will Tim Bynum, Ron Kouchi and Jay Furfaro. Daryl Kaneshiro, who was named to the Council in July to replace Asing, is also running for a spot.