Hawaii high court considers ballot eligibility for Honolulu City Council Chair

The Hawaii Supreme Court heard arguments over whether Honolulu City Council Chair Tommy Waters can seek a third term, turning on whether four months between a voided 2018 election and his 2019 swearing-in count against the charter's two-term limit.

Waters' attorney argued a shortened term isn't a full four-year term under the charter's math, while opposing counsel countered that term start dates are fixed and knowable a century out. A separate suit from East Honolulu voters argues the whole eligibility challenge was procedurally improper to begin with.

The court, patched together with three substitute judges after two regular justices recused, must rule by Friday's deadline. Whatever happens, only two names will make the November ballot: Waters and Ozawa, or Ozawa and third-place finisher Tara Gregory.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.