Republican Dave Reichert, left, and Democrat Bob Ferguson, right, are competing in Washington’s 2024 governor’s race. (Photos courtesy of campaigns)
The two men dueling to be Washington’s next governor agree that the delivery of public education could improve if the person overseeing the system was appointed rather than elected.
Both Democrat Bob Ferguson and Republican Dave Reichert endorse the idea of eliminating the superintendent of public instruction as an elected job and putting a person to helm education policy in the governor’s cabinet.
On Monday, Ferguson went further, saying he will work to amend the state constitution to remove the post as an elected position “at the end of the next full term” which would be January 2029.
Chris Reykdal, who is seeking a third term as Washington’s superintendent of public instruction, has backed the idea of transforming the post to a non-elected job for several years. His opponent in this year’s race, David Olson, opposes doing so.
Ferguson penciled his commitment into an education plan released Monday, the eve of his first face-to-face debate with Reichert.