Ann Kobayashi filed nominating papers seeking a return to the City Council, becoming the most formidable candidate in a crowded field to replace Duke Bainum.

So far, 10 candidates have filed to replace Bainum, who died June 9 of an aneurysm.

The deadline for potential candidates to file is by the end of the business day tomorrow. Others who filed papers yesterday were: Michael Cain and Nathaniel Kinney, an attorney for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 50.

At least one candidate plans to file today: Heidi Bornhorst, a landscaping consultant and daughter of former City Councilwoman Marilyn Bornhorst.

Those filing prior to yesterday were: Wendell S.L. Ching, Gladys Gerlich Hayes, Philmund “;Phil”; Lee, Keolu Jacob Peralto, Phillip “;Rocky”; Rockwell, George “;G.W.”; Waialeale and Earl Winfree.

The special election is being conducted by mail and walk-in absentee voting, with results to be released Aug. 7.

Kobayashi was joined by a handful of supporters yesterday as she filed her application at City Hall.

“;It seems I just left here,”; she said. “;I hope to be back to continue a lot of the things I'd been working on such as curbing taxes—watching out for our taxpayers' money.”;

Kobayashi, 72, had served District 5 until last year, when she passed up a shot at re-election in an unsuccessful bid to unseat Mayor Mufi Hannemann. She was first elected to the seat in 2002 in a special election to fill a vacancy created by the conviction of Andy Mirikitani in a kickback scheme.

The winner of this special election would serve the remainder of Bainum's term, which runs through 2012, and be eligible to seek re-election to two additional four-year terms.