Two races
may hold key
to Council

A loss by one incumbent
would alter the panel, now led
by Hannemann with
a 5-4 majority

By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Star-Bulletin

The seven City Council members who have won re-election are helping candidates vying for the remaining two seats -- seats that could hold the key to power.

The current majority, headed by Chairman Mufi Hannemann and Vice Chairman John Henry Felix, holds a 5-4 majority.

Andy Mirikitani, a majority member, and Steve Holmes, a minority member, are the two incumbents who still have races next Tuesday.

Some City Hall observers say a Holmes win over Melodie Aduja in District 2 (Kahuku-Enchanted Lake), coupled with a Russ Francis victory over Mirikitani in District 5 (Manoa-Ala Moana), could shift the power. A Mirikitani victory or an Aduja win would keep Hannemann at the reins, they believe.

Holmes said: "Mufi wants to keep his leadership. If he gets me out and keeps Andy in, he keeps his support."

"Absolutely not," Hannemann said. "The support is there whether Andy and Melodie win or lose."

Hannemann and Felix are appearing in brochures and newspaper ads for Aduja, who also has the support of majority member Rene Mansho and, she said, majority member Jon Yoshimura.

Minority members Duke Bainum and Donna Mercado Kim are in Holmes' brochure and ads, while John DeSoto says he recommends Holmes.

Hannemann said he has helped Aduja by introducing her to friends in her district and "encouraging people on that side to go and vote with her."

Mansho said she's "taken (Aduja) around and introduced her to people."

Felix says his picture in Aduja brochures and ads does not constitute an official endorsement. Felix said he has not formally endorsed Aduja and would have allowed his photo to be used in Holmes' ads, too, if such a request had been made.

Bainum said he has waved signs for Holmes. "I don't agree with him all the time, but when he makes a decision, it's based on the best interest of the people," he said.

DeSoto said he will recommend Holmes to anyone who asks, although he will not formally endorse the incumbent because he does not know Aduja.

Aduja said Yoshimura "has assisted me in my fund-raiser and assisted me in my brochure, putting the brochure together." A Yoshimura aide, Kyle Chock, laid out the brochure.

Does that mean Yoshimura is endorsing her? "I'd like to think that he is," Aduja said.

Yoshimura said he has neither supported nor endorsed her. Yoshimura said he declined a request from members of the Honolulu Board of Realtors to help in an Aduja fund-raiser but did "give them a name in the restaurant industry." He said he has not helped with an Aduja brochure and that Chock is doing the pamphlet on his own.

Yoshimura said that while he went to a meeting with Aduja, "I've met with Steve, too. I've met with all four candidates."

Kim and DeSoto are endorsing Francis, while Bainum said he's met with Francis on several occasions but is not formally supporting him.

Hannemann, Felix and Mansho are supporting Mirikitani.

"I appreciate any support I get from my colleagues, including Jon Yoshimura, Mufi Hannemann and Rene Mansho," Mirikitani said.

Francis said he doesn't believe there are political factions for or against him.

"They've suggested that they are willing to work with me, and that they are looking forward to a less confrontational and more rational approach to working on the Council with them," he said.