With only about 17 percent of ballots returned, nine of the 13 candidates vying to represent the City Council’s Leeward Oahu District 1 are taking to a community forum tonight to outline their views on various topics.

The forum is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at the Nanakuli Beach Park multipurpose room.

Those scheduled to attend are Tom Berg, Kioni Dudley, Jason T. Espero, Mel Kahele, Celeste (Lacaden) Lacuesta, Chris Lewis, Matthew LoPresti, Rose Martinez and Gary Velleses.

Candidates unable to attend for various reasons are James K. Manaku, Bob McDermott, John P. Roco and Victoria (Cissy) Yuen.

The all-mail special election is being held to fill the final two years of the term vacated by Todd Apo, who resigned Nov. 8 to take a job with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.

Only 7,985 of the roughly 47,000 ballots mailed to voters in the district had been returned as of yesterday, according to City Clerk Bernice Mau. Ballots were mailed on Dec. 6 and must be received by 6 p.m. Dec. 29, when results are to be announced.

In two mail-in special elections last year, 41 percent and 45 percent of eligible voters returned ballots either by mail or walk-in vote. Walk-in voting at City Hall and Kapolei Hale ends Monday.

Tonight’s forum is co-sponsored by the Nanakuli-Maili Neighborhood Board and Nanakuli High and Intermediate PTSA.

Yesterday also marked the first campaign spending report deadline for candidates.

Union lobbyist and former Teamsters executive Mel Kahele was among the top fundraisers, pulling in $19,252 for the reporting period from Nov. 3 to last Tuesday. Donations included a number from local unions, including the maximum $4,000 from the Ironworkers for a Better Government committee.

Kahele, who serves as the lobbyist for the Ironworkers Union Stabilization Fund, has spent $12,877 and has $6,374 in cash on hand.

McDermott says he raised and spent $22,597.

Espero, son of state Sen. Will Espero, reported donations of $18,875, including a $10,000 family loan. He has spent $17,404 and has $1,470 in cash on hand.

Berg raised $4,300 and spent $1,047. Counting debt from previous campaigns for the state House, he has $16,691 in campaign debt.

Lewis reported $1,100 raised and $662 spent, with $855 in cash on hand and $600 debt. LoPresti raised $350, spent $850 and has $500 in debt.

Other candidate reports were not listed online at the state Campaign Spending Commission website by late afternoon. Candidates had until midnight to file their reports.