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It would appear there are a lot of people interested in being Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa's successor.
Friday's Maui News had a story that confirmed Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui is considering a run for mayor in 2018.
"It's something I'm being asked about, almost on a daily basis," Tsutsui said. "Lots of people on Maui want me to come home. Maui will always be my home, I do miss being there."
If Tsutsui does decide to run, he will further complicate an already complex race. Former County Council Member Mike Victorino has already announced his intention to seek Arakawa's post.
Additionally, current Council Member Elle Cochran has announced in a YouTube video that she will forego a re-election bid to run for mayor. Friday's story also speculated that current Council Member Don Guzman, former member Don Couch and state Rep. Kaniela Ing are also eying the mayor's seat.
If he does choose to run, Tsutsui would be the favorite heading into the race. He has a campaign war chest of almost a quarter of a million dollars built up. He was a very popular state senator, working his way up to Senate president before becoming lieutenant governor when Brian Schatz was appointed to the U.S. Senate to succeed the late Daniel Inouye.
And what of Arakawa himself? Term limits prohibit him for running as mayor again. Some folks, though, think Gov. David Ige might be vulnerable in 2018 and the mayor is considering a run for governor.
The next year-and-a-half will be very interesting as our politicians jockey for position in the 2018 election. It looks like the race for mayor, anyway, is going to give us lots of choices.
* Editorials reflect the opinion of the publisher.