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Student Hussey,
22, challenges
Pendleton, 33

Diverse group in Manoa
Isle Gore, Bush camps await debates

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By Treena Shapiro
Star-Bulletin

State Rep. David Pendleton, 33, said he was considered a youthful legislator until his seat was challenged by 22-year-old Ikaika Hussey.

Now as he faces off with Hussey to retain the 50th district seat (Maunawili-Enchanted Lake), Pendleton is capitalizing on a decade of public service and life experience. He has a mortgage. His 10-year-old son attends public school. "I can relate to other families," he said. His family life "adds to the decisions we make with regard to school policies and budgets and tax issues."

But Hussey, set to graduate from the University of Hawaii in December with a degree in Peace and Futures Studies, believes his youthfulness can be considered an asset. "People are looking for change," he said. "Not only am I a young person, but this is also my first time running for office. I think that I have some new ideas that I think will be positive for the community."

Both candidates list the economy and education as key issues.

Pendleton would like to see general excise tax eliminated for groceries, medical services and residential rent. "You would be targeting a tax cut for those who most need it: lower-middle, middle and working classes," he said. He would also like to have a state refundable earned income tax credit for working families that mimics the federal tax credit.

Hussey wants to strengthen locally-owned businesses with assistance programs, reduced taxes, community revitalization and employee ownership. He would also like to see the minimum wage raised, allowing working families more take-home pay and less dependence on welfare.

Pendleton and Hussey would both like to replace the centralized school board with local school boards and increase the number of charter schools.

Hussey adds environmental concerns to the list of key issues, pushing for the implementation of simple conservation practices and creating incentives for renewable resource use.

Pendleton wants to privatize the prison system.

Both candidates ran unopposed in the primary. Those who voted Republican cast 1,865 votes for Pendleton and left 465 blank. Hussey garnered 2,197 votes and 1,231 were left blank.

The key to winning over those undecided voters will be connecting with the constituents, according to both candidates.

In addition to getting out and meeting the people in his district, Pendleton is concentrating on direct mail and sign-waving and hopes people will credit his experience. "I've put in a lot of hours at the Legislature and I hope my constituents will recognize that."

Hussey is meeting and calling constituents, as well as sign-waving on the Pali. "The way I'm campaigning is how I will serve in office, going door-to-door and working in partnership with the community," he said.

District 50 Maunawili-Enchanted Lake Ikaika Hussey (D) Occupation: Community organizer Background: Director, Ha Hawaii; elected to Native Hawaiian Convention David Pendleton (R) Occupation: Legislator; attorney Background: Minister and legal counsel, Hawaii Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists; former teacher

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Manoa candidate
to represent
diverse group

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By Richard Borreca
Star-Bulletin

Running roughly 4.5 miles from the back of Manoa Valley to Kapiolani Boulevard, Senate District 30 represents a broad slice of Honolulu voters.

There are about 9,500 female voters and 8,700 male voters in the district, according to voter registration files. Census updates show there is an older, wealthier population in the rear of the valley, with a middle-aged and more middle-class group near the H-1 freeway. The district is about 75 percent Asian and 20 percent white.

For 20 years, the district has been represented by Brian Taniguchi, who will turn 49 on Election Day, Nov. 7. An attorney, now working in the development branch of City Bank, Taniguchi served first in the state House, then in the state Senate from 1994.

He's a Democrat and co-chair of the commerce and consumer protection committee.

"I plan to run a basic campaign: sign-waving, going door to door," he said. "I used to be able to walk maybe 60 to 75 houses in an afternoon, but now there is more conversation because people want to know what's going on with different projects -- so I don't get as far."

Thirty-four-year-old Billy Fulton, the Republican running against Taniguchi, would like to see Taniguchi get no further.

Fulton is a network master control operator for the Miracle Network, a relay station for a religious broadcast network operating in Asia, he said.

A three-year resident of Manoa, Fulton said he got interested in the race when Mike Gabbard, chairman of the Alliance for Traditional Marriage and Values, talked to him about running.

"Senator Taniguchi supports same-sex marriage and abortion, which I don't support," Fulton said.

Taniguchi voted to support equal rights for domestic partners and said he is a pro-choice legislator.

Senate District 11 Manoa-Moiliili-McCully-Pawaa Bill Fulton (R) Occupation: Master control operator Background: Volunteer at Waikiki Community Center and River of Life Mission Brian Taniguchi (D) Occupation: Legislator; attorney Background: Served in the Senate since 1994, the House since 1980

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