Five Maui residents so far have officially tossed their names into the race for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Maui trustee seat, including temporary appointee Carmen "Hulu" Lindsey, who previously agreed not to run.
The candidate filing period opened last week and ends Sept. 7 for a special election to be held in conjunction with the Nov. 6 general election.
The following candidates - active members of the Native Hawaiian community - had filed nomination papers as of Wednesday night, according to the state Office of Elections:
* Johanna K. Amorin.
* Glenn G. Au.
* Rose Marie H. Duey.
* Doreen N. Gomes.
* Carmen K. L. Lindsey.
Lindsey's decision to run has stirred controversy, with at least one challenger saying the move "wasn't pono."
Gov. Neil Abercrombie appointed Lindsey in January to fill the vacancy created when former Trustee Boyd Mossman resigned late last year. She was to serve on an interim basis until the special election.
Abercrombie, by law, was tasked with making an appointment after the OHA board was unable to agree on a Maui nominee and declared an impasse.
Abercrombie's office said at the time that one condition of the appointment was that Lindsey agree not to run for the seat in November. The Governor's Office said that the restriction was intended to help ensure that the appointee focus on OHA duties instead of running for office.
Lindsey agreed not to run but earlier this month announced that she would in fact run. She said she was encouraged by some trustees and others in the community to seek the job.
In light of Lindsey's decision, Abercrombie spokeswoman Donalyn Dela Cruz said that the governor cannot prevent her from running.
Amorin, vice president of the Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, said she viewed Lindsey's decision as disrespectful.
"A condition was put on the governor's appointment, and Hulu was the only one to say OK to the condition," Amorin said. "To go back on your word like that, there's a feeling of disrespect. It wasn't pono."
Interested candidates for the Maui seat can file nomination papers at the state Office of Elections in Pearl City on Oahu or with the Maui County Clerk's office in Wailuku through Sept. 7. No signatures are required on nomination papers for candidates filing to run in a special election to fill a vacancy.
The election winner will fill Mossman's unexpired term that ends Nov. 4, 2014.
* Nanea Kalani can be reached at nkalani@mauinews.com.
