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Tommy Waters Disqualified from Honolulu City Council District IV Race Due to Term Limits

Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters has been disqualified from the District IV reelection bid following a court ruling that he has already served the city's two-term limit. Judge James H. Ashford ruled that the April 2019 special election win for Waters counted as a full term, despite his attorneys arguing that the first term was a shortened, irregular period. Because ballots were already distributed before the ruling, the Honolulu Elections Division announced that Waters' name will remain on the ballots. Votes cast for Waters will be counted to determine if an eligible candidate receives a majority, but only eligible candidates can be elected or advance to the general election. Waters has filed an appeal with the state's Intermediate Court of Appeals, arguing that his first term was only three years and eight months. While his opponent, Trevor Ozawa, successfully challenged the bid, other candidates Jason Liang and Tara Malia Gregory remain in the race. The election will proceed as scheduled on August 8.

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