Editor’s Note: This story was updated on Thursday, Aug. 27.
Bernard Carvalho Jr. has withdrawn from Thursday night’s Kauaʻi mayoral debate against Mel Rapozo, event organizers said.
Carvalho did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Kauaʻi Now on Wednesday, but he provided a statement on Facebook that read:
“We are saddened to share that we won’t be participating in this week’s mayoral debate,” the statement read.
“After our initial request for debate rules yielded only minimal guidance and our repeated follow-ups brought little clarity, the campaign concluded that the amount of time to prepare for the type of
debate voters deserve was insufficient.
“When event organizers declined our request to reschedule in order to address these concerns and provide both campaigns the opportunity to review the rules that were published only this weekend, we chose to put the people of Kauai first and take our conversations directly to you.”
The debate hosts Hale Līhu‘e, Hō‘ike Kaua‘i Community Media, KKCR Kaua‘i Community Radio, and Kaua‘i Wire say they are still presenting the event, which runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m., via radio, streaming, or TV. The event will not include an in-person audience.
Last week, the organizations announced the debate, saying it was an opportunity for Kaua’i voters to hear directly from mayoral candidates Rapozo, currently chair of the Kauaʻi County Council, and Carvalho, currently a member of the County Council and a former mayor of Kauaʻi.
It would have been the island’s first mayoral debate since the Aug. 8 primary election, in which Rapozo was the top vote getter in the six-person nonpartisan field with 7,618 votes (40.6%), followed by Carvalho with 5,744 votes (30.6%). Current County Council member Felicia Cowden came in third with 17% of the vote and none of the other three candidates garnered more than 2.7%.
Organizers announced on Tuesday that the debate will proceed as scheduled in a modified format with only Rapozo.
“We are disappointed that voters will not have the opportunity to hear both candidates respond directly to questions from our community together,” the organizers’ press release said. “We respect each candidate’s decision regarding participation and leave the invitation open for Carvalho to attend.”
The organizers said that both mayoral candidates had previously confirmed their participation. The organizers did not given a reason in the press release why Carvalho dropped out.
“Both were invited to participate under the same format, rules, time limits and conditions,” the press release said. “The debate was developed collaboratively by local media partners and community organizations representing a broad range of interests across Kaua‘i.
The winner of the mayoral race in the Nov. 3 general election will replace term-limited Derek S.K. Kawakami, who is running for lieutenant governor of Hawaiʻi.
Last week organizers said that questions had been submitted by community organizations representing a range of interests, including agriculture, housing, business, culture, community development and environmental stewardship.
Organizers said the coalition intended to bring perspectives from communities and sectors across the island into the discussion.
How to watch or listen
Radio: KKCR, 91.9 FM
Online radio: KKCR.org
Video: Hō‘ike Kaua‘i Community Media YouTube channel at YouTube.com/@hoikekctv
