Former Fil-Am Hawaii governor loses mayoral bid

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino-American former Hawaii Gov Ben Cayetano, the first Fil-Am to be elected to such position, lost the race to become the mayor of Honolulu. 

Cayetano conceded after the third batch of election results showed him still trailing by a significant margin, the Honolulu Star Advertiser reported.

The final tally showed that Cayetano, the first Fil-Am to be elected governor, garnered 133,154 votes or 46.1% of total votes – 22,510 votes less than what his opponent, former Honolulu city managing director Kirk Caldwell, got.

The results are seen to benefit the planned US$5.26-B rail transit project as Caldwell is a firm supporter of the program while Cayetano vowed to kill the project.

The two-time Democrat governor was backed by a group of rail opponents known to have supported Republican candidates in the past while Caldwell’s supporters included labor unions and pro-rail groups, the Honolulu Star Advertiser reported.

Cayetano garnered the most number of votes in the primary elections in August with 44.7%, which fell short of the 50% majority required to win the office without the need to run in the November general elections. 

Victorious Fil-Ams

Meanwhile, other Fil-Ams succeeded in clinching spots in the 2012 US elections. 

Among the candidates running for positions in the Hawaii County Council, Greggor Ilagan (4th District) won, getting 3,877 votes or 59.1% but Chelsea Yagong (1st District) fell short with 38.1% or 2,683 votes. 

Two Fil-Ams won seats in the councils. Don Guzman clinched a position as a Kahului Councilmember with 23,459 votes or 48.0% while Kymberly Marcos Pine (1st District) garnered 15,350 votes or 59.7% for a place in the Honolulu City council. 

Soon to be members of the Hawaii House of Representatives include: Della Au Belatti (24th District) with 5,309 or 62.2%; Rida Cabanilla-Arakawa (41st District) with 4,277 or 57.6%; and Ty Cullen (39th District) with 5,239 votes or 70.4%.

One the other hand, Marissa Capelouto (42nd District) and Chris Manabat (40th District) failed to win seats with 2,190 votes or 25.5%, and 3,073 or 46.7% respectively. 

Three Fil-Am candidates ran unopposed in the House. They are Henry Aquino (38th District); Romy Cachola (30th District); and Gilbert S. Keith-Agaran (9th District).

Two ran unopposed for the State Senate. They are Will Espero (19th District) and Donna Mercado Kim (14th District).

Another Fil-Am vying for a State Senate seat is Donovan de la Cruz (22nd District), who won with 10,087 votes or 69.4%.

The final tally of the State of Hawaii election results can be viewed here. –Rappler.com