The race for the City Council's 1st District seat, representing the area from Makaha to Ewa, is starting to take shape with a handful of newcomers vying for the office. Mike Gabbard files papers
as candidate for CouncilBy Gordon Y.K. Pang
gpang@starbulletin.comMike Gabbard, founder and chairman of the Alliance for Traditional Marriage and Values, filed his nomination papers yesterday afternoon in what is his first attempt at elected office.
Gabbard, 54, was flanked by his wife, Carol, a member of the state Board of Education, and daughter Tulasi Gabbard-Tamayo, who will be running for state House District 42, which includes Ewa Beach. Gabbard said his family has lived in Ewa Beach for just less than a year and had lived in a downtown condominium for the previous decade.
Gabbard joins John S. Kaopua III, a legislative liaison for the Ironworkers Stabilization Fund, as the only filed candidates for the 1st council district. Kaopua, 58, was born and raised in Nanakuli.
Pamela Witty-Oakland, 43, an aide to current Councilman John DeSoto, said she will file her nomination papers tomorrow. Witty-Oakland is also a first-time candidate. Others who have pulled papers for the seat but not yet filed are Donna Broome, also an aide to DeSoto and a Waianae Coast resident, and Waianae Neighborhood Chairwoman Cynthia Rezentes.
One person who is not running is former Bishop Estate trustee and state Rep. Henry Peters, who told the Star-Bulletin yesterday that after considering a run for the seat, he has decided to devote more time to his family.
City & County of Honolulu
