Retired Air Force Maj. Kathy Davenport is running to replace her former boss, Honolulu Councilwoman Kymberly Pine, whose term expires in January 2021. Pine is running for mayor.

The Makakilo resident is hoping to represent District 1, which covers areas including Ewa Beach, Kapolei, Ko Olina, Nanakuli and Waianae.

“Running for public office is not something I ever anticipated doing,” Davenport said in a statement. “But after working with government officials and community leaders, and hearing the ongoing concerns of community members, we have realized it’s time for a new direction.”

A graduate of the Kansas State University ROTC program, Davenport was assigned to Hawaii twice. During her time in the military, she worked as a fighter squadron intelligence officer, national intelligence analyst, strategic planner, air defense expert and executive officer, according to the news release announcing her candidacy.

She retired from the Air Force in 1998 and has lived in Hawaii ever since, the announcement said. She has been a resident of Makakilo for 21 years.

Davenport is a motivational speaker, life coach, award-winning fine art photographer and mother of two. She lost her husband to leukemia in 2014 and survived her own battle with cancer in 2015, she said.

“All of these experiences made me who I am – resilient, empathetic, focused,” she said.

Davenport worked for Pine from 2015 to 2017, part of which involved addressing constituent concerns. If elected, she said she hopes to focus on infrastructure, public safety, sustainability and quality of life issues.

She is a member of American Veterans, also known as AMVETS, the Kapolei Chamber of Commerce, the Organization of Women Leaders, Business Network International, or BNI, and is on the School Community Council for Kapolei Middle School.