The Maui County Democratic Party says it has received seven applications from Democrats in good standing who live in House District 9, which encompasses Kahului, Puunene, Maui Lani and Old Sand Hills to replace the seat left vacated by Senator Gil Keith-Agaran.

Applicants include James "Kimo" Apana, Anthony Edington, Renee-May Kehau Filimoe'atu, Alan Fukuyama, Kallie Keith-Agaran, Joseph Pontanilla, and Justin Woodson.

The District 9 Council will comprise the official nominating committee and will meet on Saturday, Jan. 12.  The committee will allow each candidate to speak for up to 10 minutes and committee members will be able to vote for up to three candidates, but not for the same person.

The final three names as identified by the nominating committee will then be transmitted to the Maui County Democratic Party Chair and the Hawaii Democratic Party Chair who will then forward the names to the governor.  The governor has 60 calendar days following the first day of the vacancy to make an appointment to the House seat.

The nominating committee will not release the top three names of the candidates and will defer to the governor on whether he will release the three names to the public.