Five of the seven candidates seeking to replace Mayor Alan Arakawa, who is term-limited, discussed their views before an audience of around 125 people at Valley Isle Fellowship Church in Wailuku. The forum was hosted and moderated by Faith Action for Community Equity, Maui a grass-roots, faith-based, nonprofit group that seeks to improve affordable housing availability for residents.

Attending the forum were current County Council Members Elle Cochran and Don Guzman and former Council Member Mike Victorino, the front-runners in the race. Other candidates present were Beau Hawkes and Laurent Zahnd. Ori Kopelman and Alec Hawley did not attend Thursday’s forum.

All seven candidates will be on the primary election ballot on Aug. 11, with the top two vote-getters advancing to the general election on Nov. 6.

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