Tribune-Herald
Tribune-Herald—
Former Mayor Harry Kim wants his old job back.
After agonizing for weeks about whether to run for mayor, and facing Tuesday’s filing deadline, Kim reached a decision around 8 a.m. today and pulled his nomination papers at the elections office in Hilo on Monday.
Kim served for 24 years as administrator of the county Civil Defense Agency before retiring and deciding on a run for mayor in 2000. He won that election against better-funded opponents, becoming the first Korean-American mayor in the United States.
In 2004, Kim defeated former Councilman Dominic Yagong for a second term.
Incumbent Mayor Billy Kenoi, who is seeking re-election, played football for Waiakea High while Kim was the coach. Kim later hired Kenoi as an executive assistant.
Yagong, now chairman of the County Council, said he welcomes Kim into the race for mayor.