Mayoral candidate and former judge Richard Bissen (center) waves as supporters celebrate following the first release of results on Tuesday evening that showed him with a roughly 5,000-vote lead over incumbent Mayor Michael Victorino. The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

Maui County mayoral candidate Richard Bissen jumped out to an early 5,000-vote lead over incumbent Mayor Michael Victorino in Tuesday evening’s general election.

Bissen had 17,501 votes, or 56.8 percent, to Victorino’s 12,651 votes, or 41 percent, according to the first round of results released from the state Office of Elections at about 8:30 p.m.

The retired 2nd Circuit Court judge and incumbent mayor finished first and second, respectively, in a field of eight candidates during the primary election in August.

Through text message Victorino said after the first print out, “It doesn’t look good right, but we’ll wait for the second print out. I want to thank all the people who supported me. I’m truly grateful.”

Bissen couldn’t be reached for comment.

The first round of results also showed a tight race for the Lanai residency seat on the Maui County Council, with former Council Member Riki Hokama leading incumbent Council Member Gabe Johnson with 13,428 votes to 12,933 votes.

The second-closest race was in Kahului, where incumbent Council Member Tasha Kama held a slim lead of 14,338 votes to opponent Buddy James Nobriga’s 12,275 votes. Kama edged Nobriga by 244 votes in the primary election.

Nobriga feels that the 2,000 votes is a “gap” that he can overcome.

He said that in the primary, he had around 8,000 votes but in this print out he already has 12,000 votes.

“I’ve been blessed to get some more,” he said.

“I represent an up and coming generation, that doesn’t really have faith in the system. One of our platforms was to motivate and inspire everybody to get involved. I feel like me, personally, I feel like if a lot more people come out to vote, I feel like we have a fighting chance,” he said.

Kama couldn’t be reached for comment.

The candidates with the largest margins were incumbent Council Member Tamara Paltin, who had 19,675 votes to challenger Justin Herrmann’s 6,023 votes in the West Maui residency seat race, and incumbent Council Member Yuki Lei Sugimura, whose 18,546 votes led challenger Jordan Hocker’s 8,443 votes.

Current council leadership also established an early lead, as Council Chairwoman Alice Lee emerged with 15,074 votes to Noelani Ahia’s 11,704 votes. Council Vice Chairwoman Keani Rawlins-Fernandez tallied 15,020 votes to John Pele’s 11,094.

Another incumbent, Council Member Shane Sinenci, came out ahead with 14,293 votes to Claire Kamalu Carroll’s 11,993 votes.

In the races for the only two open council seats, Tom Cook and Nohe U’u-Hodgins both grabbed early leads. Cook had 15,335 votes to Robin Knox’s 11,054 votes in the South Maui race, while U’u-Hodgins had 15,399 votes to Nara Boone’s 10,693 votes.