Sep 28, 2016 02:39 AM EDT By Chris Brandt, UniversityHerald Reporter

While Trump and Clinton are trying to win votes and debating on various national issues, the state of Washington also have their own version of Trump and Clinton in the persons of Erin Jones and State Representative Chris Reykdal who are both vying for the position of education chief of the said state.

Reykdal has served three terms as a state representative and is also an administrator for Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. Jones, on the other hand, is a teaching coach and program administrator at the Tacoma School District. She is also considered as the first African-American woman to run for such office.

Reykdal believes that putting more pressure on the Legislature to fund schools better is the key to improving the quality of education. He also believes that the public school system is 'good but needs to be great.' He also vowed to be an active participant in the McCleary decision, a case which declared unconstitutional the way the state paid for public schools.

Outgoing Washington education chief Randy Dorn is an outspoken supporter of the McCleary decision and advocated for more funding for education. His views and stance had placed him at constant odds with lawmakers.

"There is an enormous need to fully fund our system and do that more equitably," said Reykdal.
Jones agrees with Reykdal on increasing education funding and also added that there is a need for more teachers and new buildings. She added that she has a unique perspective regarding the education system of the state having experienced firsthand the inequity that the McCleary case is fighting for.

Both candidates are pushing to increase the salary of public school teachers to make it competitive statewide. They also think that the $3.5 billion outlined in the McCleary decision is just the starting point towards a more equitable education system.

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