Assuming Panos Prevedouros really does sit out the 2012 mayoral election, that would leave a vacuum for an anti-rail candidate.

Enter Ben Cayetano.

Yes, the 72-year-old former Hawaii governor floated a trial balloon in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser last week. Cayetano was noncommittal in the article, and was using the piece to grab attention and gauge reaction.

It’s interesting that Ben would consider a lower office, but it shows how seriously he takes his opposition to the rail project.

Should be an interesting election season.