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Neurodivergent-friendly voter information for Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi

KAUAI COUNCILMEMBER

About the 2026 Kauaʻi County Council Race

The Kauaʻi County Council is a seven-member body elected at-large, meaning every registered voter on Kauaʻi picks up to seven of the candidates from the same island-wide ballot — the top seven vote-getters in the general election win seats. The Council has no sub-districts; all seats are island-wide. As of the June 9, 2026 official filing record, 27 candidates initially filed for the race; Bart Thomas withdrew after filing, leaving 26 confirmed on the primary ballot. Council Chair Mel Rapozo vacated his seat to run for mayor. Fern Holland is among the filed candidates who previously served on the Council. The at-large structure means voters choose among all island-wide candidates on a single ballot. Key issues candidates have addressed in campaign coverage include housing affordability, the role of short-term vacation rentals, tourism-driven development, and public-safety and infrastructure investment. Voters should consult candidate websites, KKCR Elections forum recordings, and Honolulu Civil Beat candidate Q&As for verifiable stances.

Open seat — no incumbent running.

Primary date: 2026-08-08

MATTOS, John H. (Scooby)

Party: Nonpartisan · Backing: Independent

Platform: Westside Kauaʻi community candidate John 'Scooby' Mattos, linked to Westside Fish and Feed, who filed in April 2026.

  • John H. Mattos, known as 'Scooby,' is publicly connected to Westside Fish and Feed on Kauaʻi — a Westside agricultural and fishing supply business; his campaign contact is associated with the Westside Fish and Feed email domain.
  • Filed nomination papers for Kauaʻi County Council on April 9, 2026, per the Office of the County Clerk, Elections Division; participated in the Kapaa Business Association 2026 Political Forum on May 16, 2026, delivering a three-minute candidate statement at Ohana Christian Fellowship in Kapaʻa.
  • No campaign website or separately published policy platform was available as of the June 2026 review; the Garden Island's coverage of the May 16 forum (published May 19, 2026) and his April 9 filing announcement are the primary public sourcing records for his candidacy.

Editorial summary: John 'Scooby' Mattos is a Westside Kauaʻi community candidate with ties to Westside Fish and Feed. His Westside business connection and community roots suggest likely attention to agricultural water rights, Westside infrastructure, and the economic needs of fishing and farming communities — but no policy statements are on record. Voters should follow KKCR forums and The Garden Island.

Key issues: Agricultural water rights, Westside community, Ocean access, Infrastructure

Profile last reviewed: 2026-06-03

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