Former two-term Hawaii County mayor Harry Kim appeared headed to an outright victory tonight, avoiding a runoff against his closest rival, former managing director Wally Lau, in the contest to replace Mayor Billy Kenoi.

After the third printout of results tonight and with all but one precinct reporting, Kim leads with more than 51 percent of the vote. If he’s able to maintain the same percentage lead by the end of the night, he will be elected without having to face the runnerup in the Nov. 8 general election.

Lau was firmly in second place with 25 percent of the vote, followed further down by former eight-year Kohala County Councilman Pete Hoffman, and Marlene M. Hapai, who is a former University of Hawaii regent and UH-Manoa biology professor.

The group led a crowded field of 13 candidates vying for the county’s top elected office.

Kim’s supporters were jubilant after the third printout at 10 p.m., while Lau kept a positive outlook in the early going.

“It’s just the beginning. It’s not the end,” he told supporters in Hilo. “We’re still in this journey.”

Calls for honesty and transparency in county government were heard on the campaign trail this year after Kenoi, who is wrapping up his second and final term, faces trial in October for criminal charges linked to the alleged misuse of his county purchasing card, or pCard.

Kim, the former high-profile civil defense director who was mayor from 2000 to 2008, said he was running to restore faith and trust in government and to “make things right.”

Kim, 76, who was edged by Kenoi, his former executive assistant, in the 2012 mayoral race, is running again on a shoe-string budget funded largely by donations of $10 or less.

Kim said today was another day for him as he attended his granddaughter’s soccer game.

Lau, 68, who worked as Kenoi’s former managing director and deputy managing director for seven years, raised more than $200,000 for his campaign.

Lau said he was not in charge of overseeing Kenoi’s pCard charges and that a review of his own pCard charges found no misuse. He said he would make sure the recommendations of the pCard audit are implemented as mayor.

All of the Hawaii County Council offices are contested with the exception of one: the council seat for Hamakua. Incumbent Valerie Poindexter will return to her District 1 seat unopposed.

In the contested races, most of the incumbents won their races.

Incumbent Aaron Chung won big over Margarita “Dayday” and Hopkins William J. Halversen in District 2.

With four of five precincts reporting, Susan Lee Loy pulled ahead of Grace Castillo and Moana M.H. Kelii, in the District 3 seat previously held by outgoing councilman Dennis “Fresh” Onishi, who is running for state Senate.

Eileen Ohara over Madie Greene and Michael R. Bernard in District 4. The winner will replace Greggor Ilagan, who is running for state Senate.

Jen Ruggles knocked off incumbent Danny Peleka by increasing her lead in the District 5 race.

Incumbent Maile David handily beat Raina Whiting in District 6.

Incumbent Dru Kanuha won over challenger Nestorio Domingo in District 7.

Incumbent Karen S. Eoff trounced Jeffrey Citron in District 8.

Waimea veterinarian Herbert “Tim” Richards overtook incumbent Margaret Wille in District 9.