City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi gave up her uncontested seat to run for mayor yesterday, squaring off against Mayor Mufi Hannemann in a race that's certain to hinge in large part on the city's planned $3.7 billion elevated commuter system.

Kobayashi, who announced her decision on the last day candidates could file, joined University of Hawai'i professor Panos Prevedouros as a major contender against the mayor in a race that only a month ago seemed all but handed to Hannemann.

The three top candidates have opposing views on the rail project, with Prevedouros running on a promise to stop the plan and Kobayashi proposing to change the technology from steel wheels on steel tracks to rubber on concrete.

"Each of them has a distinct preference. It's certainly going to be an issue," said Peter Flachsbart, UH associate professor of urban and regional planning, who worked as a consultant on the city's aborted transit plan in 1992. Flachsbart said the mayoral vote has the power to not only choose a candidate, but choose the future landscape of O'ahu — with or without rail.

Though both Kobayashi and Prevedouros said they would not be running on the rail transit issue alone, they acknowledged the project would likely dominate the debate over who voters should choose. After filing her papers for the seat yesterday at 2 p.m., a little more than two hours before the cut-off time, Kobayashi said the controversy over transit — and the push to let voters decide whether to pursue the project — spurred her to run.

"There are many ways we can solve our traffic problems without buying into ... rail transit," Kobayashi said, speaking to reporters outside Honolulu Hale with about 30 supporters behind her.

Kobayashi said her campaign would be "grassroots" and drawn on "people power." And with just two months before the primary election, Kobayashi added she has a lot of work ahead of her, facing Hannemann's incumbent status and his $2 million war chest.

"I'm giving up a safe seat because I want to help," she said.

The mayor's race is nonpartisan, and could be wrapped up with the primary election on Sept. 20 if one of the candidates gets more than 50 percent of the vote. If no candidate gets more than 50 percent, the top two candidates go on to fight it out in the Nov. 4 general election.

BEYOND JUST RAIL

Kobayashi, 71, has been active in Hawai'i politics since 1980, serving in the state Legislature for 14 years before running unsuccessfully in 1994 against former Mayor Jeremy Harris. She was elected to the City Council in 2002, representing a district stretching from Makiki to Kapahulu, and served as a vocal head of the Budget Committee for several years. She now chairs the Executive Matters Committee.

Four years ago, Kobayashi supported Hannemann for mayor, but in recent months has gone head-to-head with him on several issues. Most prominently, she has disagreed with the mayor on his mass transit plan, from how much the fixed guideway system should cost and what route it should follow to what technology should be used.

The rail issue also spurred Prevedouros to run.

But he said yesterday he does not want to be seen as a single-issue candidate, since he also has concerns about infrastructure and fiscal responsibility.

"I think this city is due for a major change," he said, adding that Kobayashi "doesn't represent change."

He added, "Having these major bursts of sewer lines, this is an indication of decay."

In a short statement yesterday, Hannemann said he welcomed the competition.

"I welcome all of the candidates to the race," he said. "I look forward to a spirited debate on the issues."

Kobayashi has found support among some of her fellow council members, including Charles Djou and Donovan Dela Cruz, who was at Honolulu Hale yesterday to support her nomination. After she filed papers, Dela Cruz yelled out to supporters, "Let's hear it for the next mayor of the city and county of Honolulu," which drew hefty applause.

Djou said he believes Kobayashi could offer a "refreshing new perspective on city government."

"What I always appreciate with Ann Kobayashi is she tells it like it is," he said. "I think that's something that's lacking at City Hall. She has a stronger sense of fiscal discipline than the current administration."

Djou acknowledged that Kobayashi is an underdog, but he also said she is a formidable candidate, given her experience.

"It's a late start. The odds are against her," he said. "But she's run for mayor before."

NO ENDORSEMENTS

Stop Rail Now, the vocal anti-rail group, is not supporting either candidate. But group members said they're happy to see more people in the race.

"We're opposed to the re-election of Mufi Hannemann," said Dennis Callahan, of Stop Rail Now.

Kobayashi said at least one poll recently conducted by her supporters showed her very close in a race against Hannemann. Though Kobayashi has been mulling a potential run since late May, she said she didn't make up her mind until yesterday morning. Political onlookers said privately yesterday that Kobayashi's run could potentially benefit state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa in 2010, if Hanabusa and Hannemann were to run for governor.

They said Hannemann could come out of the mayor's race against Kobayashi a bit worse for the wear, with a potentially fractured base and wider opposition. With Kobayashi — and a much brighter spotlight — on the race, Hannemann could also be spurred into spending more money than he initially intended.

Hanabusa, a Kobayashi supporter, did not speak to the speculation.

But she said she's looking forward to an exciting mayoral race.

"It just gives us a fascinating election," she said.