BY LISA MARIE DAHM
NORTH HAWAII NEWS

A steady stream of visitors took advantage of an opportunity to visit candidates at the Candidate Talk-Story at the Waimea Town Market at Parker School on July 14.

Candidates spent time meeting voters and answering their questions.

Candidates included: U.S. House of Representatives, District 2, Bob Marx; mayoral candidates Harry Kim and Dominic Yagong; Hawaii State Senate District 4 candidates Lorraine Inouye and Malama Solomon; County Council District 9 candidates Bill Sanborn and Margaret Wille and for Hawaii County prosecutor, Lincoln Ashida and Mitch Roth.

Ruth Sturges, an American history teacher at Parker School, said she felt the Candidate Talk Story was an effective way for voters to get to know the candidates. As a teacher of junior and senior students, she encourages them to attend events like the Candidate Talk Story and to research future decision makers.

“It is important to raise the issues – to show them where to go for the information and to teach them how to make the decisions for themselves,” Sturges said.

Several of the candidates said they enjoyed the format and the opportunity to spend a longer time with voters getting to know their concerns.

On July 12, about 100 people turned out for the at the Waimea Community Association meeting for a forum following a “speed dating” format featuring candidates for State Senate District 4 (North Hawaii), State House District 7 (North/South Kohala), mayor and county prosecutor.

If you weren’t able to make the two forums, there are still several more opportunities to get to know the candidates.

The South Kohala Traffic Safety Committee will host a candidate forum from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Waimea Community Center. The forum will focus on traffic safety issues and pending traffic improvement projects. From 9 to 10 a.m. is the Hawaii County Council District candidates; from 10 to 11 a.m. will feature the Hawaii County prosecuting attorney candidates; from 1 to 2:30 p.m. will feature mayoral candidates; from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. will be the State Senate District 4 candidates.

On Aug. 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. is a candidate forum at the Kohala High and Elementary School cafeteria. Confirmed candidates include: for Council District 9, Robert Green, William Sanborn, Sonny Shimaoka and Margaret Wille; for mayor, Share Christie, Daniel Cunningham, Billy Kenoi, Harry Kim, Rand Walls, Dominic Yagong; for prosecutor, Lincoln Ashida, Paul Dolan and Mitch Roth; for State Senate District 4, Kelly Greenwell, Lorraine Inouye and Malama Solomon.

Now through Aug. 4, voters can request absentee mail ballots for the primary and general elections through the Hawaii County clerk. Primary absentee walk-in voting is available from July 30 through Aug. 9 at the Waimea Community Center on Kawaihae Road from 9 to 12 p.m.; Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m. and Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. A photo identification is required to vote. Aug. 4 is the last day to request absentee mail ballots for the primary. Aug. 11 is the primary election day.

Addition voting information and voting locations are listed in the North Hawaii News Community Calendar section. More information is also available at http://hawaii.gov/elections.