Former City Councilman Mike Gabbard announced today that he is a candidate in this year’s election for Senate District #19.

“I am announcing today,” Gabbard said, “my candidacy for State Senate District #19, which includes Honokai Hale, Makakilo, Kapolei, Kalaeloa, Royal Kunia, Village Park, Waikele, and a portion of Waipahu.”

Gabbard said, “The people in Senate District 19 have expressed to me their desire for new leadership in the State Senate. A few months ago, supporters presented me with a petition they had circulated in the district, urging me to run for this seat. Over 3000 people signed the petition, with over 2500 of them living in the district. So, today I am offering myself to represent them at the State Capitol.”

“As you know,” Gabbard said, “I was seriously considering running again for Congress in District #2, but after weighing both options, which as you can imagine, included some very lively discussions at the dinner table among the Gabbard family, I decided to go with the State Senate seat.”

Gabbard served for two years on the Honolulu City Council (2002-04) representing District #1 (Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Honokai Hale and the Waianae Coast). He ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2004. Since then he has been active in the community with the two non-profit organizations he founded, Stand Up For America and Healthy Hawaii Coalition.