With Chairwoman Maile David term-limited, the nonpartisan County Council District 6 seat is up for grabs, and four candidates have set their sights on filling it.
The sprawling district runs from South Kona across the southern part of the island and up into Volcano. The rural area is dominated by agriculture, ranches and coffee farms, and the candidates by and large represent those interests.
Colehour Bondera, of Honaunau, is a coffee and avocado farmer and is active in many agricultural and producer groups such as the Kona Coffee Association. His website is colehourbondera.com .
“As a second generation farmer, and a long-time advocate for the needs of small-scale coffee and diversified farmers in Kona and Ka‘u, I will listen to and work with residents on issues from housing, public transportation, health care, land use, and access to local food. Your vote will support a shift of the County Council from top-down to bottom-up, with a Councilperson who wants to represent your voices,” said Bondera.
Henry Bo Cho III is an ulu farmer and owner of Keonaona Farm in Honaunau, and a member of the Hawaii Ulu Cooperative. He formerly worked for Hawaii County in the Highways Division of the Department of Public Works.
“I decided to run for county council district 6 Because I’m unhappy with the way a lot of the county departments are being run and the decisions some of these departments are making that affect the people of our communities. I decided to run because I feel I have what it takes to do what is right and make the right decisions for the people of our island,” said Cho.
Michelle Galimba, of Naalehu, is a cattle rancher who’s also active in agricultural organizations as well as serving as vice chairwoman of the Windward Planning Commission. Her website is votegalimba.com .
“I am running for office in order to serve the communities of district 6 from a balanced perspective that is the result of years of community service, business experience in agriculture, and love for the aina,” said Galimba.
Shane Palacat-Nelson grew up on a South Kona coffee farm and later worked in the tourism industry. He’s a charter member of the Kuakini Hawaiian Civic Club of Kona, served as Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s liaison to Hawaii Island, and headed of the West Hawaii office of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. His website is www.shaneforhawaii.com .
“There are new, once-in-a-lifetime federal funding opportunities for infrastructure and jobs, and Ka‘u and Kona, and the whole county, cannot afford to standby and miss the opportunity. I am running for Council District 6 to maximize these opportunities while holding everyone to the highest accountability and transparency standards,” said Palacat-Nelson.
A candidate who wins more than half the votes in the Aug. 13 primary wins the election. If no candidate receives 50% plus one vote, the top two candidates proceed to a runoff in the Nov. 8 general election.
County Council races are nonpartisan and those elected serve two years.