School board incumbents advance to general election

By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser Staff Writer

Three O'ahu incumbent Board of Education at-large members advanced to the Nov. 5 general election.

Karen Knudsen, 52, a board member since 1990; Shannon Ajifu, 66, a former principal seeking her second term, and Keith Sakata, 51, an industrial construction inspector seeking his third term, collected the most votes.

The three and the next three highest vote getters will advance to the general for three O'ahu at-large seats on the 13-member board. The next three top vote getters were newcomers Randall Yee, 43, a lawyer; Marla Wade, 49, a licensed minister; and Kenneth Segawa.

In the two other contested board races yesterday, Shirley Robinson, 51, a Pearlridge resident, and Grace Dixon, 74, of Wahiawa, advanced to the general to represent the Central O'ahu District and Laura H. Thielen, 41, of 'Aikahi, and Terrance Tom, 54, of Kane'ohe, both lawyers, advanced for the Windward O'ahu District seat.

"We have the advantage of being incumbents," Ajifu said. "People are familiar with our names, and we haven't done such a bad job. It's been a tough year for the Board of Education with everyone talking about decentralization."

Knudsen, who had the most votes in early returns, said she was confident of advancing, but said, "We have a lot of work to do for the next 45 days."

Yesterday's results sets up the general election in which eight of the 13 seats on the board that oversees Hawai'i's public schools will be up for grabs.

In addition to the general election races for the three O'ahu at-large seats, the Central O'ahu seat and the Windward O'ahu seat, voters will also chose between Mary Cochran and Kelly King for the Maui District, and replacements for Marilyn Harris (Leeward District) and Donna Ikeda (O'ahu at-large seat) in winner-take-all races.

Harris and Ikeda stepped down in the middle of their four-year terms to run in other races.

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com or 395-8831.