Candidate for
Member of the Board of Trustees; Los Angeles Community College District; Office 7

I am a native Californian. I am a fourth generation American of Japanese Ancestry born in San Pedro, California, as was my father.

I am a product of Los Angeles public school system and graduated from Gardena High School in 1965. I also went to El Camino College, LA City College, and the College of San Mateo in the bay area. I got my four year college degree from Anitoch University.

I am married to Lisa Abe Furutani and have two sons who are products of local schools. My oldest son is now a junior at the University of California, Irvine and my youngest son is a senior in high school. He goes to the California Academy of Math and Science.

When my oldest son was entering kindergarden I ran for the Los Angeles Board of Education (1987). I served two four year terms and one of those years as president of the board. It was the toughest job I ever had.

After a short hiatus from education, I ran for the LA Community College Board of Trustees in 1999. I am the only person who has been ever elected to both the Los Angeles Board of Education and Los Angeles Community College Board.

Concurrently, I am a consultant for the Speaker of the California Assembly. I've worked for Speaker Emeritus's Antonio Villaraigosa and Bob Hertzberg. I now work for Assembly Speaker, Herb Wesson, Jr.