Trevor Ozawa formally challenged Honolulu Council Chair Tommy Waters’ candidacy in circuit court on Tuesday, escalating a dispute as the candidates vie to represent Waikīkī, Kaimukī and East Honolulu on the council.
In his 52-page complaint, Ozawa says Waters should be deemed ineligible for this year’s election because he has already reached his term limit. Ozawa wants to block Acting City Clerk Chadd Kadota from certifying Waters’ nomination papers and stop Hawaiʻi Chief Election Officer Scott Nago from printing and distributing ballots with Waters’ name on them.
The City Charter says council members cannot be elected to more than two consecutive four-year terms. Waters has served for two terms, but his first term in 2019 started late due to an earlier election dispute with Ozawa. Waters says that means the first term didn’t amount to four-year term. Ozawa disagrees…