PUHI, Kauai » Kauai Mayor-elect Bernard Carvalho Jr. and his opponent, JoAnn Yukimura, both said they spent the day after Election Day thanking supporters, reflecting on the past four months, and sleeping.

But while Yukimura said she was going to back to “;being a citizen”; at the end of the month, Carvalho was meeting with advisers last night to evaluate his staff for the start of his two-year term.

“;The next few days ... and weeks are very critical,”; said Carvalho, who was sign-waving outside Kauai Community College yesterday afternoon. “;Our goal was to win. We just focused on that.”;

Now he's got to put together a team of advisers, pick a second-in-command and evaluate his department heads. However, he said, no one is losing his or her job at the county right away.

“;I said I want to sit down and evaluate every (department), see if everything is in line”; with his vision of the county, he added.

On Monday, Carvalho is even returning to his current job as county parks director after a four-month leave of absence.

“;I'll be going back, get things together,”; before his inauguration Dec. 1, Carvalho said.

He said he received about “;2 million”; calls from well-wishers, including a number of teammates at the University of Hawaii who claimed they said he'd be mayor two decades ago.

Yukimura, meanwhile, said she has no immediate plans after leaving the Kauai County Council on Dec. 1.

“;I need some time to reflect and not be tired,”; she said while sign-waving about 200 yards from Carvalho on Kaumualii Highway yesterday afternoon.

“;My commitment has always been and always will be to serve Kauai,”; she said. “;I've been a citizen activist for a very long time.”;

Yukimura said she will continue to champion the energy sustainability plan and will somehow be involved in the important agricultural land study plan.

“;I can't stay away from these things because I care too much,”; she added.

Plus, after picking up a part-time paycheck from the county for her “;15-hour days”; as county councilwoman, Yukimura said she needs to get a job.

“;There's a lot of things for me to think about,”; she added.