Pendleton steps down State Rep. David Pendleton has relinquished House minority leadership duties because he found himself "burning the candles at both ends."
as House GOP leader
He says he wants more time
with his family and constituentsBy Pat Omandam
pomandam@starbulletin.comPendleton (R, Kailua-Kaneohe) left his minority floor leader position yesterday and is pondering a re-election bid for his Windward community seat this fall.
He said duties as second-in-command of the Republican caucus were rewarding but intense, and often forced him and his family to make sacrifices.
He said the combined duties as a legislator and as an administrator, attorney and pastor with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Hawaii, a Protestant Christian denomination, has become increasing difficult to do simultaneously.
A father of three, Pendleton and wife Noemi, a former Board of Education member, have another baby due in June. Pendleton was first elected to the state Legislature in 1996 at the age of 29, and has been minority floor leader since 1998.
"I want to spend more time with my family and in my Windward district," Pendleton said. "I want to contribute to the quality of life of all my constituents, including my own growing family."
His request to leave his leadership role was approved yesterday by House Minority Leader Galen Fox (R, Waikiki) and House Speaker Calvin Say (D, Palolo).
"He's fantastic and very able, and was quite excellent in preparing us for the floor (sessions) and handling floor debate," Fox said.
Fox declined to discuss who within the 19-member caucus will replace Pendleton.
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