Petition Started to Recall Mayor Kenoi

A recall petition form was obtained by Hilo resident Russell Doi, who is seeking to recall Hawai’i County Mayor Billy Kenoi from his elected position.

County Clerk Stewart Maeda confirmed to Big Island Now that Doi received the petition forms from the Office of Elections.

The petition attempt is the latest move by a Big Island citizen to seek action against Kenoi’s spending on his county-issued p-card. Earlier this month, an ethics complaint was filed with the County Board of Ethics, aiming to oust Mayor Kenoi and Finance Director Deanna Sako from office.

According to Maeda, Doi will have 120 days to have his petition returned with a total of 15,544 signatures, which is 25 percent of the electorate during the last election. All signatures must be obtained from registered voters who will need to provide the last four digits of their social security number, residence, and legal name used to vote.

The deadline for Doi to return the petition is August 21.

“Once the Petition is submitted, County of Hawai’i Elections Division has 30 days to verify the signatures,” Maeda told Big Island Now. “If there are insufficient signatures, petitioner has 10 days from the day he/she was informed of the insufficiency to submit a supplemental petition with additional signatures. Once the supplement is submitted, Elections Division has 10 days to verify the supplemental petition signatures.”

P-card spending records during Mayor Kenoi’s tenure in office show a number of personal transactions made on the county card, including two transactions at Honolulu hostess bars. He also racked up thousands of dollars in other personal expenditures. The Mayor has paid back $31,112.59 of transactions to the county.