Honolulu City Council member聽Joey Manahan on Thursday joined聽colleagues Ikaika Anderson, Brandon Elefante and Kymberly Pine聽in supporting Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s re-election.
The announcement was made at Caldwell’s campaign headquarters on Nimitz Highway.
“I have confidence that Mayor Caldwell has the leadership abilities to get the funding needed to complete the project as planned,” said Manahan. “With eight rail stations planned for my district alone, his commitment to finishing the project is what the residents in my district need.鈥
Said Anderson, “Although we sometimes have differences on policy issues, Mayor Caldwell comes through and meets us half way to find solutions. Whether it is park improvements in Waimanalo, traffic improvements in Kailua or repaving the streets in Kaneohe, it is very important to the people of Windward Oahu to have a good leader and it is for those reasons that I鈥檓 here to support his re-election.”
Said Elefante, “This is about electing someone like Kirk who was born and raised here, understands the people, and has solid plans for transformation and making Honolulu a safe city.”
Said Pine, “For the first time, we will have just about every road paved 鈥 that is something that has never been done.聽 Before he took office nearly four years ago, the residents from the West side were never taken seriously.聽Now, we are treated equally among other districts and constituents across Oahu.”
Caldwell expressed gratitude for the praise and said it gives him “energy” to work聽harder — presumably聽in the campaign and should he win another聽four years.
Council Chair Ernie Martin and members Ann Kobayashi and Trevor Ozawa announced their support for Charles Djou, Caldwell鈥檚 challenger, last month.
The two other members of the Council, Ron Menor and Carol Fukunaga, have publicly remained neutral in the race.
That suggests that, regardless who is mayor next term, there will be a divided Council.
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About the Author
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Chad Blair is the politics editor for Civil Beat. You can reach him by email at cblair@civilbeat.org or follow him on X at .