Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 15, Number 6, 1 June 1998 — In it to win [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

In it to win

By Paula Durbin ĪHIS ELECTION year might see another Native Hawaiian take the governor's mansion — in Maryland where Ray Shoenke, known locally as Alapa, is challenging the incumbent Parris Glending for the Democratic nomination. "I've always had an interest in seeking political office," Shoenke explained. "In fact, I was urged to run for Congress immediately

arter 1 retired trom football, but a friend urged me to build a business and spend time with my family before throwing my hat into the political arena. And that's what |J| 1 did." Shoenke and his wife, Nancy, have been tnarried for 34 years and have a son and two daughters, one of whom resides in Honolulu. Having worked on many presidential campaigns, beginning with George McGovern's, Shoenke is not a political novice, but he has never held elected office either. He began this race accepting his almost total laek of name recognition - despite two seasons as an offensive lineman

with the Dallas Cowboys and 10 seasons with the Washington Redskins. "That part of my life has been over for many years," he insisted. "There are fond memories, but that is not a foundation for a candicacy." Since his retirement from professional sports in 1975. he has been CEO of the multi-million dollar insuranee brokerage firm he founded in suburban Maryland. Shoenke was born in Hawai'i in 1941. His parents met when his Native Hawaiian mother was working as the general's maid at Schofield Barracks where his father was stationed as an enlisted man. As a teenager, Shoenke missed graduating from Punahou because of his father's

transfer to Texas just before his senior year. He has a bachelor of arts degree in history from Southern Methodist University. Although Shoenke has not lived here since

1958, his campaign is filled with references to his - loeal connection. "My mother was a Native Hawaiian who didn't learn English until she was 15," he said in his speech announcing his candidacy. "She was told poor Hawaiians, like her, could not succeed. She did not believe it, and she made sure I did not believe it either. She taught me that I could not only survive, but I could excel if I was smarter, more determined and willing to work harder and longer than others." phoīo courtesy: ray shoenke anY standards, Shoenke has succeeded

and maybe excelled. "I have pledged $2 million of my own money to the eampaign," he answered when asked about his war chest. His platform would sound familiar to voters here. "In the best of times, our schools are suffering due to laek of diseipline. In the best of times, our economy lags behind our neighbor's," he emphasized in his announeemenī speech, blaming the incumbent. Shoenke promises such initiatives as keeping schools open until 7 p.m., tracking down deadbeat dads, allowing health management organization participants to choose their

pnysicians, aggressiveiy treating addiction in juveniles and requiring prison inmates to eam a high school equivalency diploma as a condition for parole. "The death of Martin Luther King sparked my activism, and the candidacy of Bobby Kennedy prompted my interest in politics," Shoenke maintained. "Those two men are probably why I'm involved in politics today. Now that my children are grown and I have a successful business, I decided it was time to become a public servant through elected office. I believe I ean provide the leadership Maryland needs." With more than one candidate trvins to wrest the

Democratic nomination from the governor in the Sept. 15 primary, Shoenke's first race is a tough one. But, he said, "If I didn't have a ehanee, I wouldn't have entered the race. I'm in it to win." ■

^ My mother was Native Hawaiian. She taught me that I could not only survive, but I could excel if I was smarter, more determined and willing to work harder and longer than oUie^,")") — Ray Shoenke

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