First-time candidate Billy Kenoi took a commanding lead In the race for Big Island mayor over a field of eight candidates, including former state Sen. Lorraine Inouye.

Early returns had Kenoi garnering considerably more votes than his two closest rivals combined. The second and third place runners up were Inouye and County Councilman Angel Pilago.

Any candidate who gets more than 50 percent of the vote in the non-partisan primary is elected outright, but Kenoi was slightly shy of that mark in early returns last night. If no one wins 50 percent, the top two vote-getters in the mayoral primary will face a runoff election in November.

Kenoi, a former executive assistant to Big Island Mayor Harry Kim, was the best financed mayoral candidate, raising $304,000 and spending almost $286,000 by Sept. 5.

Inouye, who served as mayor from 1990 to 1992, raised about $250,000 for the race as of Sept. 5. Pilago raised about $62,000.