Ann Kobayashi last night won the special election for the Honolulu City Council 5th District seat left vacant by the death of Duke Bainum and will return to the seat she gave up last year in an unsuccessful bid for mayor.

Kobayashi, 72, beat out 13 other candidates in the mail-in election that also included former state Sen. Matt Matsunaga and labor attorney Nathaniel Kinney, a newcomer who launched a sizable media campaign.

Kobayashi won with 7,658 votes, or 37.56 percent, according to final results that still need to be certified. Matsunaga had 6,284 votes, or 30.82 percent, and Kinney got 3,822 votes, or 18.74 percent.

In all, 20,444 people, or 41.01 percent of the 49,851 eligible voters, cast ballots.

The 5th Council district seat was left vacant when Duke Bainum died June 9 after suffering an aortic aneurysm.

Kobayashi will serve the remaining three-plus years on Bainum's term, and is eligible to run for two more consecutive four-year terms.

The 5th District includes Manoa, Makiki, Ala Moana, McCully-Mo'ili'ili, Kapahulu, St. Louis Heights and Palolo.

A jubilant Kobayashi celebrated her return to Honolulu Hale with several dozen supporters at her headquarters in the heart of the Ke'eaumoku business district.

Kobayashi acknowledged name recognition helps in a short-period campaign, but said her accomplishments also aided in the victory.

She also pointed out that even when she was out of office, she continued to be involved in the community's affairs, including volunteering with the Meals on Wheels Program and attending neighborhood board meetings.

"It's because I care about the district," she said.

Council Chairman Todd Apo anticipates Kobayashi will be sworn in to office Aug. 28, with a ceremonial swearing-in scheduled for Sept. 16.

COUNCIL EXPERIENCE

Apo said Kobayashi's election is a boon because her experience will allow her to "hit the ground running."

Kobayashi, meanwhile, said she expects to support Apo's continued leadership of the council.

Bainum's death left the council without a chairman of the council's Public Infrastructure Committee. Kobayashi said she would be interested in heading the committee.

"I hadn't really thought about it, but I'd like to look at public works because the infrastructure in our district is aging," she said, noting that she is also interested in public safety issues.

Kobayashi regains the seat she first won in January 2002, also during a special election when then-Councilman Andy Mirikitani was convicted of felony public corruption. That election also featured 14 candidates.

Kobayashi chose to forgo a re-election bid last year and instead ran for mayor against incumbent Mufi Hannemann.

The long-running rivalry between Kobayashi and Hannemann, fueled largely over her opposition to the administration's $5.6 billion transit project, likely will be renewed with Kobayashi back on the nine-member council.

Last night, Kobayashi said she's not so much a critic of the mayor as "I'm an advocate for transparency and how the money is being spent."

One notable distinction between Kobayashi and her major competitors is that Kobayashi has said that while she supports mass transit, she has strong concerns about Hannemann's plan. Matsunaga and Kinney have been mainly supportive of Hannemann's plan.

Last night, Kobayashi said she accepts that voters chose to support a steel-on-steel rail project. But she pointed out that such technology could still allow for a light rail project that may be less bulky and expensive.

SECOND ELECTION

This was the second special election for a city council seat this year. In the spring, Ikaika Anderson won over a field of 10 other candidates to determine who would replace District 3 Councilwoman Barbara Marshall, who died in February. In that race, the relatively unknown Anderson, a Marshall aide, easily beat out a field that included former council members John Henry Felix and Steve Holmes.

Kinney, Kobayashi and Matsunaga raised the most money and received the bulk of endorsements in the race.

Preliminary spending reports through July 23 showed Kinney reported having received $109,910 and spending $99,969. A lawyer for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, his report showed $30,000 of his money came via a loan from his father, Painters Union chief Lynn Kinney.

Kobayashi was second in fundraising and spending. She reported receiving $96,616, including $7,400 in contributions from herself, and spending $82,406.

Matsunaga reported receiving $60,790 and spending $54,396. His receipts included $38,400 in loans from himself.

Kobayashi's endorsements included the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers, ILWU Local 142, Local 5, the Hawai'i Women's Political Caucus and the Sierra Club Hawai'i Chapter.

Kinney's endorsements included the Hawaii Government Employees Association, the Hawaii State AFL-CIO, the Hawaii Carpenters Union, the Operating Engineers of Hawai'i, the Hawaii Fire Fighters Association and the Hawaii Building and Construction Trades Council.

Matsunaga's endorsements included the Hawaii Laborers International Union and The Advertiser.

City Clerk Bernice Mau said the election cost about $150,000.