Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine, who is opposed to a plan to relocate the operations of a key U. S. Marine Corps base to his city in Okinawa, said Wednesday he wi
NAHA, OKINAWA PREF. – Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine, who is opposed to a plan to relocate the operations of a key U. S. Marine Corps base to his city in Okinawa, said Wednesday he will seek a third four-year term.
The main focus of the election slated for Feb. 4 is expected to be the planned transfer of the operations of U. S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from a residential area in Ginowan to a new airstrip to be built at the less-populated Henoko coastal district in Nago. Official campaigning will start Jan. 28.
“By using every possible means, I am determined to take a firm stand, together with Gov. Takeshi Onaga, to stop construction of the new Henoko base and bring an end to the issue, ” the 72-year-old mayor told a press conference in Nago.
Onaga is also a strong opponent of the planned base relocation within the prefecture.
The race is expected to be closely fought between Inamine and Taketoyo Toguchi, a city assembly member, who supports the base transfer plan.
