When Ben Cayetano first announced his candidacy for mayor back in January, he mentioned that Honolulu City Council members Ann Kobayashi and Romy Cachola would be advising him on city issues. As I was leaving the kickoff event at Cycle City on Nimitz Highway, I even bumped into Kobayashi on her way into the elevator.

So it’s not a surprise that she’s supporting him, and not a surprise that she’s continuing to speak out against the rail project. But it was interesting when an email came this week, purportedly from Kobayashi, encouraging folks to join her at Cayetano’s chili-and-rice event tomorrow.

That’s something to keep in mind as she battles with the administration over the budget in coming weeks — she wants Mayor Peter Carlisle out of office.

Here’s part of what her email said. Emphasis in original.

It is not just a matter of managing the rail project. The rail project is WRONG for Oahu for many reasons – as even the FTA and the City’s own consultant have said. There ARE alternatives that will really alleviate traffic, avoid a financial disaster of epic proportions, and preserve the culture and beauty of our island. The GET that has been collected CAN be re-directed to fund these alternatives as well as take care of our crumbling infrastructure and other critical needs. But we need to elect Ben Cayetano for that to happen.

Join me in supporting Ben Cayetano to ensure that Oahu gets back on the right track! As he has in the past, he will fight for US – not for the special interests who have everything to gain if the rail project is not stopped.