FILIPINO-American David Pendleton, 42, was born in Glendale, Calif., and moved to Hawaii when he was in preschool. He went to Windward Adventist School and then Hawaii Mission Academy. In high school, he already had an interest in government and politics, and was elected class and student council president.
For a short time at La Sierra Campus, he was a pre-med student. But Pendleton soon switched to a history and political science double major with a theology minor. He went on to receive a master’s in religion from Loma Linda and became a minister. At the time, he was debating whether the best way to serve in his career was as a minister or in public service. Pendleton decided to get a law degree from the University of Southern California and is admitted to practice law in Hawai`i and California.
In 1995, Pendleton moved back to Hawaii where he practiced law and specialized in workers’ compensation issues. He also represented clients and argued cases before the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board.
After a year as an attorney, he ran for the State House of Representatives. He was elected and eventually served four terms (eight years) as a Republican for Kailua and Kaneohe. During his tenure in the Legislature, he served as Minority Floor Leader, Minority Whip and Assistant Minority Leader. His committee assignments included the House Labor and Public Employment Committee. He was named Legislator of the Year in 2000 by the Hawai`i Medical Association.
Pendleton is a former school teacher, university administrator, and pastor. He was a Pacific Century Fellow and a Henry Toll Fellow, and previously served on the board of directors of various organizations including the Filipino Chamber of Commerce, Castle Medical Center Strategic Planning Committee, and the Young Lawyers Division of the Hawai`i Bar Association. He has been a volunteer faculty member of the Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders and is a graduate of the US Marines Command and Staff College Distance Education Program at Marine Corps Base Hawai`i, the HPD Citizens Police Academy, and the East-West Center’s New Generation Seminar.
After leaving office in 2004, Pendleton joined Gov. Linda Lingle’s staff as a senior policy analyst, focusing on legislation relating to the Departments of Labor and Industrial Relations, Taxation, Budget and Finance, and Hawaiian Home Lands.
In July 2006 the governor appointed him to the Labor and Industrial Relations Appeals Board for a 10-year term. The Board conducts contested case hearings and trials concerning labor and workers compensation matters and other issues before the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
In 2002, Pendleton has been selected as Alumnus of the Year by the faculty of the School of Religion at La Sierra University, becoming the first Filipino-American to be
honored with the award.
"I am honored and grateful to receive this award as a Filipino-American," said Pendleton. "It underscores the role education plays in the Filipino community. I owe my achievement to my former teachers and professors who took their personal time to inspire me and cultivate me as a student and person."
David and wife, Noemi, have four children: Roland, Raquelle, Danielle, and David II.
( Published on September 2, 2009 in Asian Journal Los Angeles p. B2 )
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