Kauai mayoral candidates have 2 weeks to file paperwork

LIHUE » The Kauai County Council was to select an interim mayor today, the day after Mayor Bryan Baptiste's funeral, to serve until an election can be held this fall.

Exactly how the election, or the selection, will be held was up in the air.

County Clerk Peter Nakamura said yesterday that county officials, including Councilwoman Joann Yukimura, interim Mayor Gary Heu, County Attorney Matthew Pyun and Council Chairman Kaipo Asing, were set to meet after the mayor's funeral to discuss the upcoming election and any problems that might arise at today's meeting.

Yukimura said they would like to get the answers to several questions — including whether a primary mayoral election will be held in September — settled by this morning so the selection is as clear and smooth as possible.

Mayoral candidates have just two weeks, until July 22, to file their paperwork to be included on any ballot. As part of the Kauai County Charter, the Council must select one of its own to be the interim mayor until the election. The six-member Council will then select a member of the public to serve out the missing councilmember's remaining term. No date for that selection has been set.