State Rep. Chris Reykdal, D-Olympia, said Thursday that he is running for Washington’s Superintendent of Public Instruction.
That makes him the second official candidate for the top education position in the state. Erin Jones, 42, a Tacoma School District administrator, announced her candidacy n March.
The position will be on the ballot next year.
Incumbent Randy Dorn, who has held the office since 2008, says he won't decide whether to run until after a Washington Supreme Court ruling on whether the Legislature is meeting its obligations to fix basic education in grades K-3.
In addition to the two declared candidates, former Democratic Rep. Larry Seaquist of Gig Harbor, who once chaired the House Higher Education Committee, said earlier this summer that he is seriously thinking about running. He could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Reykdal, 42, is in his third term in the House. He is vice chair of House Education Committee and is on the House’s higher education committee. He is an associate director for the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges. He is also a former budget revenue analyst for the state Senate and a former teacher.
He said the state school system is headed in the right direction, but good execution is needed to make recent legislative education initiatives work. He stressed the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction should work closely with local school districts.
