KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii – Three candidates for Hawaii County mayor had a chance to speak to a large crowd gathered for the Hawaii County Democratic party convention at the Palamanui Campus of the Hawai’i Community College in Kona on Saturday.

Former mayor Harry Kim, former managing director Wally Lau, and former Hawaii County Council chair Pete Hoffmann took to the podium for brief remarks before fellow Democrats.

Its a crowded, non-partisan field for the mayor’s seat, which will open up late this year when Billy Kenoi terms out. Aside from Kim, Lau and Hoffmann, those who have officially filed, according to the Hawaii elections office: Alvin Akina, Paul Bryant, Wendell Ka’ehu’ae’a, Helen Olena Luta, Shannon McCandless, Timothy Waugh, and Eric Weinert.