Panos For Mayor

Photos by Mel. More at this link.


Dr. Panos D. Prevedouros and supporters held a press conference yesterday where he stated his intention to file papers and run for the office of Mayor of the City & County of Honolulu. Dr. Prevedouros is running on a general platform to "fix Oahu" and specifically to help stop the $6 billion fixed rail project.

Prevedouros run for Mayor and his possibility of actually beating incumbent Mufi Hannemann is quite a long shot. First of all Mufi is the incumbent and has a campaign war chest of more than $2 million. He will also have the backing of all the major public sector and some if not most of the construction unions and trades.

By contrast Dr. Prevedouros campaign fund as of today is probably "zero". He will be running a grassroots type of campaign that will rely on people more than on money. He already has the backing of the Stop Rail Now organization and the League of Women Voters of Hawaii.

Dr. Prevedouros run for mayor will be a 2-pronged attack on the costly rail project this fall (assuming that the Stop Rail Now campaign is successful by placing the question on the ballot).

The primary election this coming September will be the first test of the candidate's strength. If any candidate can claim at least 50% + 1 of the total vote, he or she will automatically become Honolulu mayor. If candidates cannot get more than 50%, then the top 2 candidates will continue in a runoff during the November 4 election.

I am happy that Dr. Prevedouros is offering himself as an alternative choice to the well entrenched incumbent. This will be the first Mayoral race where I actually will have someone to vote for instead of just tossing in a blank vote into the ballot box.

Additional Links

• Draft Panos
• Supporters Rally for Panos for Mayor
• Honolulu Voters are in Battle Over City's Rail Project
• Fight Over Rail Transit Heats Up Online
• Battle Lines on Transit Drawn Across Internet
• Rail Critic Intends to Challenge for Mayor

In an unrelated editorial published yesterday, former Hawaii Governor Ben Cayetano chimes " ...I concluded that rail transit was not appropriate for Honolulu." I've known for many years that the former Governor has been against the rail. It is probably one of the reasons why this project never took off during the 8 years he was in office. The editorial on Attacks on Opponents of Rail are Troubling is a good read.


Time to "Dump Muffy"...