The race for the City Council's East Honolulu seat is heating up with the entry of former Honolulu Managing Director Bob Fishman. Ex-city official Fishman
files for Council raceHe served as city managing
director from 1994 to 1998By Gordon Y.K. Pang
gpang@starbulletin.comFishman, 55, filed nomination papers with the City Clerk's Office yesterday for the District 4 seat.
Fishman was Mayor Jeremy Harris' right-hand man from 1994 to 1998, when he held the post of managing director. After filing his papers yesterday, Fishman said he has his own agenda and is not out to do the mayor's bidding.
All nine Council seats are up for grabs. And while reapportionment ensures there are no true incumbents, three current Council members are eligible for re-election and are expected to run again -- Romy Cachola, Ann Kobayashi and Gary Okino in districts 5, 7 and 8, respectively.
Fishman will go up against state Rep. Charles Djou for the seat that covers Makapuu to Ala Moana, including Hawaii Kai, Aina Haina, Diamond Head, Kahala and Waikiki. While Council races are nonpartisan, Fishman is a longtime Democrat and Djou a Republican.
Djou issued a news release saying he welcomed the competition.
"I look forward to a vigorous discussion with all candidates about the need for change and new leadership at City Hall," Djou said.
Fishman had been chief executive officer for the Hawaii Tourism Authority but left following the Sept. 11 terrorism attacks when he was called to active duty in the Army Reserve. Fishman, who served in the Reserve's homeland security office in Washington, D.C., remains on active duty status until the end of the month.
A member of the Army and Hawaii Army National Guard for 31 years, he is a colonel and deputy commander for the U.S. Army Reserve for the Pacific.
With the July 23 filing deadline approaching, other Council races are also starting to take shape:
>> No one has filed nomination papers for the District 2 (Mililani Mauka, Wahiawa, North Shore, Temple Valley) race, but Wahiawa Neighborhood Board Chairman Donovan Dela Cruz, former legislator Gerry Hagino, and city employee Ernie Martin have said they will run.
>> In District 3 (Kaneohe, Kailua, Waimanalo), planner Donald Bremner, community advocate Kimberly Kalama, and former state Sen. Stan Koki have filed nomination papers. Veteran TV journalist Barbara Marshall has also announced her intention to seek the office.
>> Sen. Rod Tam has filed nomination papers for the District 6 (Downtown, Kalihi) seat while former state Sen. Dennis Nakasato and Makiki Neighborhood Board Chairman John Steelquist have also announced plans to run.
>> Former Police Chief Mike Nakamura, a member of the state Board of Education, has filed nomination papers for the District 9 (Mililani, Waipahu, Makakilo) seat, while state Rep. Nestor Garcia and businessman Cliff Laboy also said they are vying for the seat.
City & County of Honolulu
