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DeCoite, Ritte rematch on the horizon after close 2020 finish

All but two state Senate, House races in Maui County contested for primary

By Colleen Uechi 5 min read

Walter Ritte will take another shot at Sen. Lynn DeCoite's seat in the Democratic primary in August, two years after the candidates faced off in a race decided by fewer than 100 votes.

DeCoite and Ritte, both from Molokai, filed papers to run for the state Senate District 7 seat that covers East Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe.

Leo Caires of Kula has also filed to run as a Democrat for the Senate seat, while Tamara McKay of Makawao has filed to run as a Republican, according to state Office of Elections candidate reports as of the filing deadline on Tuesday.

"I'm starting really late, but I've learned a lot in my first try, and I'm not going to make the same mistakes again on this try," said Ritte, who pulled papers Friday and filed Monday. "And I'm going to be talking to a lot of young people to get them involved. So hopefully that's going to make a difference."

Ritte said he "definitely" expects the race to be just as close as their last face-off in August 2020, when DeCoite was a representative for House District 13. The results of election night, with DeCoite holding a 91-vote margin, were close enough to prompt a mandatory recount that solidified DeCoite's victory with a 93-vote lead days later.

Last year, after former Sen. J. Kalani English retired from the state Legislature, DeCoite, Ritte and Caires were among six candidates who applied to fill English's seat. DeCoite and Caires were among the three finalists before DeCoite was ultimately appointed by Gov. David Ige to the seat.

DeCoite, who filed Friday, couldn't be reached for comment.

Ritte said several factors played into his decision to contend for the seat this year, including people in the community urging him to run and his time working with young people on Molokai who are are eager to get involved. He pointed to the recent decision by the state Commission on Water Resources Management to restore Molokai streams that had long been diverted, which "got them all excited" about working within the system to create change.

"I've been able to accomplish a lot of things outside of government, whether it's Kahoolawe or trying to protect Maunakea," said Ritte, a longtime community activist. "And we can do some things outside of government, but we can do a lot more by getting into government. That's been my mantra. So this go-around I'm trying to lead by example and bring around the young people."

Caires, who also couldn't be reached for comment, is a Maui High graduate who started a solar energy business, Genex Energy, and also operates Kaupakalua Wine & Liquor Co. with his family.

McKay, who will advance to the general election with no challenger for the Republican primary, is a small business owner involved in both professional photography and animal care.

As the chairperson of the Maui County GOP, "I saw a lot of issues that I felt weren't addressed and hearing a lot of the concerns of the citizens," McKay said Thursday. "So I felt that somebody needed to go up and step up for the voice of the people."

She said her husband oversees security for Haleakala Ranch and that they see opportunities to expand agriculture, address issues over the Jones Act and help develop Hawaii's economy with less of a reliance on tourism.

McKay acknowledged Ritte's and DeCoite's involvement on Molokai, saying that all of the candidates "have something to offer from their background."

"But I think it's time that we need somebody who is very proactive, who is willing to do something about it," McKay said.

House District 13, the seat that DeCoite vacated to cross over to the Senate, is currently held by Rep. Linda Clark, who was appointed by Ige last year. Clark will face a primary challenge from fellow Democrats Chase Nomura and Mahina Poepoe. Republican Scott Adam and Green Party member Nick Nikhilananda have also filed to run.

Maui County's other state House and Senate races include:

• Three open seats. Senate District 6, vacated by retiring longtime Sen. Roz Baker, will include three candidates in the Democratic primary -- Shaina Forsyth, Tamara Goebbert and current House Rep. Angus McKelvey. Philip Raya and Sheila Walker will compete to be the GOP nominee, while Melissah Shishido has filed to run under the Green Party. The district covers South and West Maui, Legends at Maui Lani and Waikapu Gardens due to recent redistricting.

South Maui's District 11 is also wide open with Rep. Tina Wildberger stepping down at the end of the term. Democrats Terez Amato and Randal Mahiai and Republicans Shekinah Cantere and Netra Halperin are contending for the seat.

House District 14, a new district that's a product of reapportionment, would've likely been McKelvey's seat had he run for reelection. The district now includes nearly all of West Maui, from Waihee to Kahakuloa and all the way around to Lahaina town and Maalaea. Democrats Kanamu Balinbin and Elle Cochran, Republican Kelly Armstrong and Aloha Aina Party member Leonard "Junya" Nakoa III have filed to run for the seat.

• Two House seats that only need one election. With only Democrats running, the primary will determine the winner of Central Maui's District 9 as challenger Sam Peralta takes on incumbent Rep. Justin Woodson.

In Upcountry's District 12, incumbent Democratic Rep. Kyle Yamashita, Republican Dan Johnson and the Green Party's Summer Starr will head straight to the general election with no challengers in their respective parties.

• Two uncontested lawmakers. Sen. Gil Keith-Agaran of Central Maui's Senate District 5 and Rep. Troy Hashimoto, whose former House District 8 has been redrawn as House District 10 that includes Paukukalo, Waiehu and Waikapu, will go unchallenged this election cycle.

* Colleen Uechi can be reached at cuechi@mauinews.com.

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