First-time council members work to defend their seats

Four races require top-2 finish in primary to advance

In 2018, a social justice advocate with little political experience stunned the former mayor in a bid for the Kahului residency seat.

Now, first-time Council

Member Tasha Kama is facing a challenge of her own from two opponents: behavioral health specialist Deb Kaiwi, who finished third to Kama and Arakawa in the 2018 primary, and caregiver Carol Lee Kamekona.

All but two of the Maui County Council races this year are contested, and four races require a top-two finish in the primary to advance — Kahului,

West Maui, MakawaoHaiku-Paia and Lanai.

Like Kama, first-time Council Member Tamara Paltin is out to defend her seat against two opponents: small business owner Rick Nava, whom she beat two years ago, and Sne Patel, president of the LahainaTown Action Committee.

Candidates in other races are hoping to be the next political newcomer success story, including small business consultant Aja Eyre and former mayoral candidate Laurent Zahnd, who are challenging incumbent Council Member Mike Molina, who returned to the council in 2018 after nearly a decade to win the Makawao-HaikuPaia residency seat.

And on Lanai, journalist Alberta de Jetley, organic farmer Gabe Johnson and retired wastewater supervisor Matthew Mano are gunning for what would be their first stint on the council. Lanai is the only open seat on the council, with Member Riki Hokama stepping down due to term limits.

Candidates were asked to answer the following questions (with a 100-word limit):

≤ Why did you decide to run for office and what goals do you hope to accomplish if elected?

≤ What are the causes of our housing crisis and what can we do to generate the high volume of truly affordable housing needed for residents?

≤ How can we reboot and diversify our tourism-reliant economy not only during the pandemic but in the long run?