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Molina, Paltin poised to fill open council seats

Incumbents King, Hokama, Sugimura hold onto seats

Mike Molina, who appears headed for victory in the race for the Makawao-Haiku-Paia residency seat, is interviewed Tuesday evening by Akaku Maui Community Media’s Chivo Ching-Johnson. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
Tamara Paltin waves to acknowledge the crowd’s applause at Akaku Maui Community Media on Tuesday. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
Council Member Yuki Lei Sugimura won re-election to her Upcountry residency seat. She is shown in Kahului on Tuesday night. She defeated challenger Hannibal Starbuck. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo
Hokama
King
Former Council Member Mike Molina and lifeguard Tamara Paltin, both seeking open seats on the County Council, appeared to be headed for victory Tuesday night. Molina was seeking the Makawao-Haiku-Paia residency seat, vacated by council Chairman Mike White, who is leaving the seat to concentrate on his job as general manager at the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel. Paltin was running for the West Maui residency seat, being vacated by Elle Cochran, who ran for mayor. Molina, currently an executive assistant to Mayor Alan Arakawa, had 48.3 percent of the vote or 23,399 votes after the third printout. Trinette Furtado, a legislative and policy analyst for Council Member Alika Atay, had 40.1 percent or 19,423 votes. Paltin, a Maui County ocean safety lieutenant, held a substantial lead over businessman Rick Nava. After the third printout, Paltin had 26,954 votes, or 55.6 percent, to Nava's 14,138 votes, or 29.2 percent. "I feel great and humbled and just grateful for everyone's support and everyone going out to the polls and voting and getting involved and learning about the candidates they like and voting for them," Paltin said in an interview with Akaku Maui Community Media on Tuesday night. "I never would've guessed that it would come to this, but I'm stoked." When asked what she hopes to tackle on the council, Paltin said she was interested in chairing the Planning Committee "if it's in the cards," especially since her residency district of West Maui is currently working to update its own community plan. However, she said, "I'll be happy with anything really, and I'll do my best." Paltin also was asked about the potential division on the council. "You just gotta take every situation as a brand new situation," Paltin said in response. "And I think it's better if you don't go in with any expectations and not really attached to the outcome except (that) it's the best thing for Maui County and the people who live here. For me that's my primary concern. I'm sure there will be ups and downs like anything. And I'll just keep trying. . . . Hopefully, I will continue to have the people's support." Paltin jumped out to a large lead with 12,344 votes to Nava's 6,834 or 54.5 percent to 30.2 percent, respectively after the first printout. Paltin's first run in local politics came in 2014 when she ran for Maui County mayor. She advanced from a seven-candidate field to the general election and faced off against and her boss, Mayor Alan Arakawa. She lost 25,435 votes to 18,162 or 55.3 percent to 39.5 percent, respectively. Molina will be returning to the council seat he previously held from 2001 to 2010. He unsuccessfully ran against incumbent White in 2014. Molina could not immediately be reached for comment Tuesday night. Molina held the lead from the first printout, with 11,819 or 52.2 percent of the vote to Furtado's 8,425 or 37.2 percent. For the Lanai residency seat, incumbent Riki Hokama appeared on his way to victory over invasive species technician Gabe Johnson. After the third printout, Hokama had 21,709 votes or 44.8 percent to Johnson's 19,450 or 40.2 percent. Incumbent Yuki Lei Sugimura also was on her way to retaining her Upcountry residency seat on the council, enjoying a lead over Baldwin High School science teacher Hannibal Starbuck throughout the night. The third printout had Sugimura with 26,362 or 54.4 percent of the vote to Starbuck's 16,346 or 33.7 percent. Another incumbent, Kelly King, was on track to remain in her South Maui residency seat over challenger, real estate broker Zandra Amaral Crouse. The third printout had King with 29,519 votes or 60.9 percent to Crouse's 11,619 or 24 percent. The third printout had 33 of Maui County's 34 precincts reporting. The first printout included all absentee walk-in and some mail-in ballots. * Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com. [gallery ids="714922,714923,714924,714927,714916"]

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