Maui polling place, file photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Sixteen people on Maui have already pulled papers as they consider a run for public office in the upcoming 2012 election.

Two Kihei residents pulled papers for congressional seats in Washington.  Antonio Gimbernat filed papers for the US Senate on the Democratic ticket; and Patric Brock pulled papers for the US House as a Libertarian candidate.

In the state Senate, Republican Chayne Marten pulled papers last week for the District 6 seat (previously Dist.5, but the numbers changed because of reapportionment), currently held by Sen. Roz Baker.

In the state House, Kihei resident, Joe Bertram III pulled papers for his old seat after being narrowly defeated by Republican George Fontaine in 2010.  At the time, Fontaine earned 48.9% of the vote, ahead of Bertram’s 46.1%.  Also pulling papers for the seat this time around is Kihei resident, and Chief Professional Officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui, Colin Hanlon.

In the Council, the Kahului seat has already drawn the attention of three individuals including Alan Fukuyama and Don Guzman who both filed papers in February; as well as Erin McLaughlin who pulled papers on March 7.

For the Wailuku/Waihee/Waikapu Council seat, incumbent Michael Victorino and Joseph Blackburn II both pulled papers on the same day in February.

West Maui Council member Elle Cochran, and East Maui Council member Robert “Bob” Carroll became official candidates for re-election in February.  Cochran is seeking her second term on the council; and Carroll is seeking to return after narrowly defeating incumbent Bill Medeiros in 2010.

Council incumbents Don Couch (South Maui), Mike White (Makawao), and Gladys Baisa (Pukalani) each pulled papers for their respective seats.

A single nomination also surfaced on Molokai where Stephanie “Stacy” Crivello pulled papers for the seat being vacated by the term limit of Council Chair Danny Mateo.

The candidate filing deadline is 4:30 p.m. on June 5, 2012.