A mini-surge of candidates filed to run for a seat on the Kaua‘i County Council just hours before the deadline lapsed yesterday at the Historic County Building.

The field for the Sept. 20 primary and Nov. 4 general election is now set.

Three incumbents are not seeking reelection to the council and all seven seats on the legislative body are up for grabs.

Council members JoAnn Yukimura and Mel Rapozo are running for mayor against county Parks and Recreation Director Bernard Carvalho. A fourth mayoral candidate, Kapa‘a resident Rolf Bieber, filed on Monday.

The top vote-getter will take office Dec. 1 for the remaining two years of the late Mayor Bryan Baptiste’s second term.

More than 150 residents rallied yesterday evening on the lawn in front of the Historic County Building where Rapozo delivered a statement on why he is running for mayor.

“What matters most is not your name, your race, your color … but what you do for others,” he said, a bit choked up. “I’ll set the priorities. I’ll set the direction.”

Councilwoman Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho, who attended Rapozo’s event, is running unopposed for county prosecutor.

Of the 22 candidates running for council, eight filed their nomination papers yesterday, according to the uncertified 2008 candidate filing information. Candidates have until 4:30 p.m. today to withdraw from the race, according to state law.

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(Source: Nathan Eagle, Kauai Garden Island News)