(Hunter Bishop for KPUA)
Hilo attorney Billy Kenoi has jumped to a commanding lead for mayor or Hawaii County with 62 percent of the absentee votes over his opponent Angel Pilago in the first printout.
Kenoi supporters cheered loudly when televisions set up on the lawn in front of Kenoi’s campaign headquarters in in Hilo announced the early results, with represent nearly a third of the votes cast so far in the race. Kenoi was at his Kona headquarters earlier this evening and hasn’t yet arrived in Hilo.
In a minor surprise, former Councilman Gary Safarik is leading incumbent Emily Naeole in the 5th Council District in attempt to regain the seat he lost two years ago. Safarik has 1,118 votes to Naeole’s 1,102 votes in the early returns.
And in other races, Dennis “Fresh” Onishi is leading Andy Baclig by a wide margin in the 4th Council District, 61 percent to 31 percent; Kelly Greenwell is leading Debbie Hecht in the 8th Council District, 48 percent to 41 percent.
In the state Senate District 1 race, Democrat Dwight Takamine is leading comfortably over Republican Ted Hong, 64 percent to 39 percent.
In state House races, Democrat Mark Nakashima is winning handily over Republican Steven Offenbaker in District 1, 70 percent to 21 percent; Democratic incumbent Clift Tsuji is winning over Republican challenger Moana Tavares in District 3, 81 percent to 12 percent; and Faye Hanohano is leading Republican challenger Fred Blas in the 4th District, 58 to 34 percent.
The issue of making marijuana the lowest law enforcement priority for Hawaii County law enforcement officers also is getting approval by Hawaii County voters in the early returns, 49 percent to 43 percent.
And the formation of East and West side planning commissions on the island is also winning by a surprisingly large margin, 63 percent to 37 percent.
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