Without mainstream awareness of who is and isn't running for each office we cannot possibly get out of this closed circle.  News media in Hawaii chooses to focus only on top candidates, as if they are the only ones that exist.  In a closed loop system you cannot get fresh ideas and non-corrupted candidates.  One responder last week suggested that those who weren't at the top of the heap need to 'earn their way up through the ranks' - which is a coded way of saying they must learn who holds the true power and bow to them - in other words be coopted into the same closed loop system.  In Hawaii we end up with incompetent leaders and cradle to grave employment for the anointed few, who play musical chairs to move from one position to another.  Dismal system.  Civil Beat is doing its best to expose us to all candidates - but they are not TV or in every home.