DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM At Les Ihara's campaign headquarters, Michele Harris, left, Ihara, wife Catherine Cooke Ihara and Kate Zhou heard via cell phone that he was leading after last night's first printout.

2 incumbent senators lead challengers

Two incumbents in the state Legislature appeared to have won races that may affect the balance of power in the Senate.

State Sen. Les Ihara, in a hard-fought race to keep his 9th Senatorial District, was leading Board of Education Chairman Randall Yee, the son of former Republican state Sen. Wadsworth Yee, in the Democratic primary after two printouts.

Ihara belongs to a Senate faction that has not pledged support to Senate President Robert Bunda's or any other group. He faces Republican Gladys Gerlich Hayes, who won her primary for the district that includes Kapahulu, Kaimuki and Waikiki.

And on Maui, Democratic Sen. Shan Tsutsui was winning his 4th Senatorial seat against former Sen. Jan Yagi Buen, who lost to Tsutsui four years ago. The Democratic winner has no general election opponent.

Buen enlisted Bunda to campaign for her on Maui, promising to support Bunda for president if she won. Tsutsui has his sights on the Senate President's office.

In the House contests, appointed Rep. Bev Harbin was trounced by Downtown Neighborhood Board member Karl Rhoads in the 28th House District in the Democratic primary. Harbin's appointment was controversial because she didn't tell the governor prior to the appointment that she had a 1987 criminal record for passing bad checks and that she owed $123,000 in back taxes.

Rhoads will face GOP contender Collin Wong in the general election.

State Rep. Kam Tanaka was losing to Angus McKelvey for the 10th House District Democratic primary.

GOP candidate Kay Ghean heads to the general.

Another Lingle appointee, Republican Rep. Anne Stevens, beat challenger Mike Peters for the 23rd House District (Waikiki) seat that was held by Galen Fox, who resigned after it was learned that he was convicted in California of sexual battery, a misdemeanor, for groping a sleeping female passenger on an overnight flight to Los Angeles last year. Stevens' general election opponent will be former Hawaii Democratic Party communications director Tom Brower.

Voter voices

SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Helen Dana
Voted for Hanalei Aipoalani
"He grew up in Nanakuli. We're really proud of him for what he's accomplishing at this young age. He's like the underdog, but we're giving him a chance."

Melissah Burch
Voted for Colleen Hanabusa
"Colleen Hanabusa is good for the island."

Destry Heiser
Voted for Clayton Hee
"He's just been in for a while ... he doesn't care for Bush."

Manoa Williams
Voted for Colleen Hanabusa
"She's from our area -- no choice but to work for people on our side. She got to pass my house."

Shavon Silva
Voted for nobody
"I didn't know anything about the other candidates so I just left it blank."

LEGISLATURE

Donna Davis
Voted for challenger Jan Buen
"Affordable housing is important here. ... We're thinking of our children."

Randall Endo
Voted for state Sen. Shan Tsutsui
"I think he's doing an excellent job. He's extremely intelligent. In his freshman term, he's risen to leadership."

9TH SENATE DISTRICT

Peter Aiello
Voted for Randall Yee
"Les needs to move on. He's been there too long. He's part of the machine. Let's ditch the machine."

Noreen Nascimento
Voted for state Sen. Les Ihara
"He's more personable. He was out every morning, doing legwork."