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49
Maunawili-Kaneohe

Pono Chong

Age: 34 Job: Assistant coordinator, Halawa-Luluku Interpretive Development/H-3 Mitigation, Office of Hawaiian Affairs

What qualifies you to be a state representative?

My commitment to the community and experience in government and business will help me serve as representative. Volunteering at Kailua and Castle High School, I see many of the issues facing our schools. ...

What is the most pressing issue facing your district, and what would you do about it?

I believe the state of our schools is a top priority. I would work to ensure that schools have the resources to provide our children a good education. This includes low student/teacher ratio, having certified teachers ...

Do you support or oppose Gov. Linda Lingle's plan to break up the statewide Board of Education? Explain.

School reform is the issue, not governance. Our children must have certified teachers, good facilities and the tools to learn. Parents need to have input at the individual school rather than another board level. ...

David Pendleton

Age: 37 Job: Attorney (11 years) and pastor (seven years) Past: University administrator; high school teacher

What qualifies you to be a state representative?

1. Father of four, three of whom are school-aged and in public schools. 2. Lifelong Hawaii resident, except for college, seminary, and USC law school. 3. Knows how hard it is to pay monthly mortgage and state taxes. ...

What is the most pressing issue facing your district, and what would you do about it?

Education is the top priority of my constituents. As a former school teacher and university administrator and as a parent of three public school kids, I pledge to continue to work hard to pass the governor's New Beginning. ...

Do you support or oppose Gov. Linda Lingle's plan to break up the statewide Board of Education? Explain.

I support the people deciding on the ballot. As a parent, I support decentralizing our centralized public school system, which presently makes decisions concerning Hilo and Hanalei from Honolulu. ...