Apana resigns to pursue
Maui mayor’s seat

WAILUKU » James "Kimo" Apana has stepped down as chairman of the Maui County Democratic Party to devote his efforts to regaining the seat as mayor.

"I resigned so that I may pursue once again leading Maui County as its mayor," Apana said in an interview with the Star-Bulletin.

Apana said he felt he needed to start about a year in advance of the September 2006 elections and wanted to bring together both Democrats and Republicans to make Maui County "the best it can be."

In the nonpartisan mayoral general election in 2002, Alan Arakawa defeated Apana in his bid for a second four-year term, 20,887-19,784.

Arakawa attributed his victory partially on his endorsement from environmentalist Rob Parsons, who received 3,819 votes, or 13.7 percent, in the mayoral primary.

Parsons has worked as environmental coordinator under the Arakawa administration.

Apana ran as a Democrat and won the mayoral election in 1998 against the Republican Arakawa, 22,350-20,301.