HILO >> Although the Hawaii County Council elections are now nonpartisan, Bob Jacobson still identifies himself as a Green Party member. [ HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL ]
2 Hawaii Council
seats up for voteBy Rod Thompson
rthompson@starbulletin.comHe is trying to succeed his wife, Julie, in the Council seat for the 6th District from South Kona to upper Puna.
The district has consistently elected Greens for a decade, the only one to do so. Facing him is third-generation coffee grower Brenda Domondon. She has been active in other community areas such as water development.
At the other end of the island, 9th District (North and South Kohala) incumbent Leningrad Elarionoff is being challenged by Eddie Akana, who has run unsuccessfully for public office before.
A former police captain, Elarionoff says he offers greater experience. Akana, a civil deputy for the Department of Public Safety, say Elarionoff fails to focus on the district. "I will represent my district instead of the whole island," Akana said.
The winners of these races may make a difference in their districts, but they won't affect islandwide policy much. Seven of the nine Council members were already elected in the primary, and most were incumbents, meaning no major change in Council direction is likely.
