Much at stake in this year’s election

From the president on down to the Hawaii County Council, there’s a lot for voters to consider this election year — and not just during the Nov. 8 general election.

If government affects us most at the local level, then voters would be wise not to ignore the Aug. 13 primary, which is hosting winner-take-all battles for a majority of County Council seats and the island’s top prosecutor.

But even when there are more than two candidates, a nonpartisan race could be decided then if a candidate wins more than 50 percent of the vote.

That includes the mayor’s race, that despite having a crowded field of 13 candidates, has a chance of being decided before November, said Todd Belt, a political science professor at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

“I think the main story going into the primary is — will Harry win?” he said, referring to former Mayor Harry Kim who is running his fourth campaign this year.

Belt gives the 76-year-old Hilo resident, who was mayor from 2000-08 and served as Civil Defense director, the edge, noting he benefits from a squeaky-clean image. That could work in his favor leading up to the trial of Mayor Billy Kenoi, who faces criminal charges for using a county purchasing card for personal expenses, he said.

“Trust in government is a big thing, particularly with (Tropical Storm Iselle),” Belt said. “I think that is really going to benefit Harry Kim being Civil Defense director and everything like that.”

Despite the scandal, he said Kenoi leaves a pretty good legacy regarding park construction and other capital projects that has more of an obvious impact on residents.

“People really seem to like that,” Belt said.

That could benefit Wally Lau, Kenoi’s former managing director who is running for mayor and seen as one of the strongest candidates.

While the pCard issue might benefit Kim, Belt said he doesn’t expect Lau to be hurt too much, despite being Kenoi’s right-hand man.

“On the Big Island our politics aren’t that heavy-handed or very negative,” he said, adding voters tend to be more “forward thinking.”

“I guess the issue is whether he can successfully claim some of the credit” for the administration’s more popular initiatives, Belt said. “How well can he do that?”

In addition to deciding whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump wins the White House, Big Island voters also will be weighing a couple other federal races.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, who had Puna voters to thank for his 2014 primary win over Colleen Hanabusa, is running for re-election, as is U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. Both are Democrats.

In East Hawaii, two state Senate seats and four state House seats are up for grabs.

Perhaps the most high-profile is Hilo’s Senate District 1 race, which will determine whether Kai Kahele, the son of late-Sen. Gil Kahele, keeps the seat after Gov. David Ige appointed him during this year’s legislative session following his father’s death.

Kahele is being challenged by County Councilman Dennis Onishi and Kaloa Robinson in the Democratic primary. The winner will face off against Libertarian candidate Kimberly Arianoff.

Belt said he expects the race to be close, with it going either way for Kahele or Onishi.

“(Onishi) has done a lot for the community as well,” he said. “That might be a pretty tight race.”

Belt said he would give the edge to Kahele, noting his father was known for running extraordinary campaigns.

“If you could write a textbook on how to run a local campaign, Gilbert Kahele knew how to do it,” he said.

One county charter amendment also will go before voters during the General Election.

Voters will decide whether the county’s general plan, the long-term document governing land use, should be expanded. The proposed changes adds health as a factor to be considered when planning growth and says the plan is the “long-range policy for the comprehensive physical, economic, environmental and socio-cultural well-being of the county.”

Email Tom Callis at tcallis@hawaiitribune-herald.com.