Iwanuma struggles to find pro-IR mayoral candidate

Since the Iwanuma City Council passed a resolution last June to launch a feasibility study for an IR bid, little progress has been made. With mayoral elections approaching in about two weeks, there is no candidate yet to represent the pro-IR position.

Incumbent Mayor Hiroo Kikuchi reportedly informed the city council last August that he did not support an IR bid for the small city, which lay next to Sendai Airport, “the Doorway to Tohoku.”

Kikuchi is now running for reelection, but in spite of the fact that some are displeased with his negative view toward an IR initiative, they have not been able to find any candidate to challenge him.

At present, most observers believe that Kikuchi will not face any opponent in the June 10 election, and therefore Iwanuma city will be, for all practical purposes, out of the IR race.

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