MEDIA RELEASE

A moderated candidate forum at Kealakehe High School cafeteria begins 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1 and features two sets of candidates.

The candidates for Hawaii County Prosecutor, whose office prosecutes most criminal cases, will be the county’s top civil attorney, Corporation Counsel Lincoln Ashida, and current Deputy Prosecutor Mitch Roth.

The two candidates for mayor are incumbent Mayor Billy Kenoi, running for his second four-year term, facing former Mayor Harry Kim, seeking to regain the office after serving for eight years until 2008.

Because there are only two candidates for each office, the candidates will have time to more fully discuss their ideas and positions.

Both county jobs are important, and the idea of this forum is to allow the candidates to go into more detail, rather than state their plans in general terms.

The moderator will be Sherry Bracken of LAVA 105.3 fm radio and Hawaii Public Radio.

Timers will be Marni Herkes of League of Women Voters and Hazel Beck of the Small Business Development Corporation.

Kealakehe High School’s School Community Council will sell Chinese Chicken Salad and possibly another entree, home-baked cookies, and beverages as a fundraiser.

School Principal Wil Murakami will lead the team, with other teachers and parents as support. This is a fundraiser for the school, so forum attendees are encouraged to support the school at the food sale.

The prosecutor and mayoral forum will be carried live on LAVA 105.3 fm islandwide from 6 p.m. until 8:15 p.m.

The forum sponsors include Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce, Kohala Coast Resort Association, Hawaii Island Board of Realtors, West Hawaii Today, Hawaii 24/7, Mahalo Broadcasting/LAVA 105.3 fm, and Rotary of Kona and Kealakehe High School.

The public may submit questions via email to info@lava105.com or via fax to 769-5050.