Only Okino and Tam facing opponents

The two councilmen have each spent less than $10,000 so far on their campaigns

Gary Okino and Rod Tam, the only two Honolulu city councilmen facing challenges this election year, have spent less than $10,000 each on their campaigns so far this year.

Each also has about $101,000 left with eight weeks to go before the Sept. 23 primary election, according to the latest reports filed with the state Campaign Spending Commission.

City Council candidates must win a simple majority in the primary to win the seat. If not, the race carries over to the Nov. 7 general election.

Two other members of the City Council, Chairman Donovan Dela Cruz and Charles Djou, also are up for re-election this year, but face no opposition in their districts.

Tam faces a challenge from Michael E. Wilcox in District VI, while Okino faces a pair of challengers in Kenneth P. Harmeyer and Inam "Noodles" Rahman in District VIII.

Wilcox said his campaign was working to get the paperwork filed yesterday afternoon. Although he was unaware of the amounts raised, he said his campaign "was going very positive."

Harmeyer's campaign reported raising $1,182 and spending $816 with $366 still on hand. Rahman's report was not immediately available online by yesterday's 4:30 p.m. deadline.

Both incumbents have raised and spent roughly the same amount so far this year.

Okino raised $17,205 in the most recent reporting period, from Jan. 1 through June 30, and spent $9,654. He still has $101,807 on hand. His contributions included $1,000 from Ohana Gentry Political Action Committee.

Tam raised $18,623, including $1,900 from Gentry Ohana. He spent about $8,642 and still has $101,559 on hand.

Although neither Dela Cruz nor Djou faces any opposition, both have raised and spent more than the two incumbents who are being challenged.

Djou has raised $85,086 since Jan. 1 and spent $13,312, with $228,307 still on hand. Dela Cruz has raised $20,529, spent $13,079 and has $89,387 available.

In other reports by City Council members:

» Ann Kobayashi raised $112,738, spent $358 and has $112,380 available.

» Todd Apo raised $1,152 and spent $3,872. Including debts carried over from previous reporting periods, his campaign owes $3,961.

» Romy Cachola raised $4,844, spent $41,329 and has $271,171 available.

» Barbara Marshall raised $1,850, spent $105 and has $7,999 available.

Councilman Nestor Garcia's latest report also was not immediately available. Garcia, who is running for the 2nd Congressional District, said he has raised $44,400 for the campaign, including a $40,000 loan from himself.