Billy DeCosta, who was suspended from his teaching position at Kapaa High School earlier this year, is unlikely to return as a member of the Kauai County Council, according to preliminary election results updated Wednesday morning.

Only the top seven vote-getters receive seats, and DeCosta was in ninth place behind Fern Holland. Councilman Ross Kagawa, who had trailed Holland by nine votes in previous results, retained his seat with 169 votes as of 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Arryl Kaneshiro, a former city councilman, was also among the top seven to be elected in December. Other council members willing to return include Chairman Mel Rapozo, Bernard Carvalho, KipuKai Kualii, Addison Bulosan and Felicia Cowden.

DeCosta also failed to crack the top seven in the primary and fell 618 votes short of seventh place in the August contest, narrowing the field to the final 14 candidates.

The state Department of Education placed DeCosta on leave in January after he made inappropriate comments to a student on social media, Kauai Now reported in August.

This year, DeCosta was behind a tax increase on hotels and vacation properties on Kauai that would help fund housing developments. Most council candidates agreed at a forum in October that affordable housing and affordable rents were the county's top issues.

The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment was $1,800, and the average price for a single-family home was about $945,000.

While housing is likely on the agenda next year, the council also has a lot of control over county spending when it meets to approve the budget. The county currently has an operating budget of more than $350 million for the current fiscal year.

In addition to the budget, they also have a significant influence on how much of Mayor Derek Kawakami's agenda is approved. Kawakami's final term ends in 2026 and he plans to run for state Senate.

Based on previous elections, at least one or more of the current council members will be running to replace Kawakami in two years.

Changes to the Kauai Charter are approved

Kauai voters appear ready to give middle and high school students non-voting seats on county boards and commissions. “Yes” votes on Question 5 outnumbered “no” votes by 56.5% to 24.2%, early election results show.

Kauai was also interested in allocating money to protect natural resources. For question 3, 70.1% voted “yes” and 12.2% voted “no”.

It also appears the Kauai Police Commission will be given more time to conduct an investigation. For question 1, 66.4% voted “yes” and 15.8% voted “no”.

The Cost Control Commission is on track to recommend new spending measures if they save the district money in the long term. For question 2, 46.7% voted “yes” and 32.9% voted “no”.

Voters also support a proposal that would allow the county to purchase insurance to protect against fraud. For question 4, 52.3% voted “yes” and 25.9% voted “no”.