LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Two candidates in Kaua'i's mayoral election said yesterday they are considering asking that the election be audited or recounted, although neither had hired an attorney to file the required challenge to the Hawai'i Supreme Court.

Jesse Fukushima and John Hoff, who finished second and third, respectively, in Saturday's primary, said they are concerned that the sensitivity of the equipment counting paper ballots could mean that a new count could generate different results.

Mayor Bryan Baptiste, who received a razor-thin majority — two votes more than half the votes cast — has been named the winner. The County Charter says that a candidate receiving a majority of votes cast in the primary wins outright and does not need to face the second-place finisher in a general election runoff.

County Clerk Peter Nakamura ruled Tuesday that blank votes and spoiled ballots would not be counted in determining whether Baptiste gained a majority. Fukushima yesterday said his discussions with attorneys on Kaua'i and O'ahu brought him to the same conclusion.

"It's pretty much an iron-clad interpretation. It would be to no avail to try to take it to the Supreme Court," Fukushima said.

However, if a recount gave other candidates at least two more votes, or gave Baptiste two fewer, a runoff would be held, and Fukushima would campaign on toward the general election.

Fukushima said he understands that his effort may be a long shot.

"When we had our fundraiser, one of the theme songs we played was the theme song of 'Mission: Impossible,' " he said.

Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com.