KAUAI
TOM FINNEGAN / TFINNEGAN@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kauai Mayor Bryan Baptiste fist-bumped "heart and soul" supporter Rosie Bukoski last night after the results of the first printout.
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Kauai mayoral, Council incumbents win
LIHUE » There were few surprises in the Kauai County races yesterday.
In the mayoral race, incumbent Bryan Baptiste was well ahead of his four rivals, but did not receive the required 50 percent plus one vote needed to win the race outright.
"There will be a runoff," Baptiste told hundreds of supporters at the Lihue Neighborhood Center. He also said his supporters are ready to keep fighting.
"We will work hard and give it our best shot," he added.
Former Councilman Jesse Fukushima, who had been out of politics for a decade, had a strong showing, receiving almost 30 percent of the vote. The anti-incumbent candidate, substitute teacher John Hoff, received more than 11 percent of the vote.
In the Kauai County Council race, perennial candidate Bob Cariffe once again was knocked off the ballot for the general election. Cariffe was the only candidate eliminated in the primary, where the top 14 of the 15 candidates advance to the general election.
Former mayor and Council incumbent JoAnn Yukimura had the most votes in the council race, followed by six of seven incumbents.
Councilmembers Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho, Jay Furfaro were second and third respectively, followed by council chair Bill "Kaipo" Asing and incumbent Mel Rapozo.
Former Councilman Ron Kouchi, who had been out of politics following a loss to Baptiste in the 2002 mayoral race, was in sixth place, followed by another incumbent, Daryl Kaneshiro.
Former Kauai Police Chief K.C. Lum was in 10th place, behind community activist Tim Bynum and Waimea High School teacher Bill DeCosta.