Maui has a new Mayor
In what turned out to be a close race, Mike Victorino will be Maui’s next mayor, garnering 27,057 votes, or 53.6%. Ohana candidate Elle Cochran received 22,078 votes, or 43.8%.
About the new Mayor. Victorino lists many years of community service on his website, including coaching baseball and being on the Maui Economic Development Board, the County Fair board, his church and numerous other community organizations. He served on the Maui County Council 2007-2016.
Background. Victorino has been married for 42 years to wife Joycelyn (Nakahashi) and has two sons, Michael Jr. and Shane. The Victorino family has celebrated triumphs, including seeing son Shane become a celebrated major league baseball player. They have also endured hardships including a cancer scare, two major surgeries and near-fatal car accident caused by a drunk driver, but the family always pulled together, united by their optimism and willingness to work hard.
Following high school graduation, Victorino studied business management at Hawaiʻi Community College and Hilo College. After three years of study, he was hired to open Zales at the Queen Kaʻahumanu Shopping Center. When his contract expired, he went through the McDonald’s Management Training Program, AKA Hamburger U, known globally for excellence in teaching executive management skills.
After working as a manager for McDonald’s (where he also met wife Joycelyn), Victorino entered the insurance business as an agent for Combined Insurance, working his way up to County Manager. After working for a couple of other insurance companies, he settled in with First Insurance Company of Hawaiʻi. When Hurricane Iniki hit Kauai it changed the company because it eliminated the marketing division. He moved to Bishop Insurance as a manager. After Bishop was acquired by American Savings and HECO in 2001, he joined Mutual Underwriters where he remains today.
STATE BALLOT QUESTIONS
ConCon
Shall there be a convention to propose a revision of or amendments to the Constitution?
Results: Failed
YES 12,898 26.2% NO 31,827 64.6%
Investment Property Surcharge
Shall the legislature be authorized to establish, as provided by law, a surcharge on investment real property to be used to support public education?
Results: This question was nullified by the State Supreme Court before the election. Results will not count.
MAUI BALLOT QUESTIONS
Illegal Vacation Rental Penalties
Shall the Charter be amended, effective January 2, 2019, to increase the penalty for the operation of a transient accommodation without a necessary permit from the current $1,000 amount to a civil fine of up to $20,000 plus $10,000 per day for each day the unlawful operation persists, unless a higher fine is authorized by State law, and to clarify that the current limit of a $1,000 fine for the violation of an ordinance is a limit of $1,000 per day the violation persists?
Results: Passed
YES 25,414 51.6% NO 18,612 37.8%
Open Space Fund
Shall the Charter be amended, effective January 2, 2019, to expand the uses of the Open Space, Natural Resources, Cultural Resources, and Scenic Views Preservation Fund to authorize the fund to be used to perform safety and security improvements on lands acquired through the fund?
Results: Passed
YES 29,663 60.2% NO 14,127 28.7%
How Claims are Filed
Shall Section 13-6 of the Charter be amended, effective January 2, 2019, to require that claims be filed with the Corporation Counsel instead of the County Clerk?
Results: Failed
YES 19,080 38.7% NO 21,395 43.4%
Complete 2018 Maui County election results are included below:
