State Superintendent Race Gains New Significance Amid School Funding Crisis

As school funding issues take center stage, the race for Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction has gained new significance. Incumbent Chris Reykdal, a Democrat, faces challenger David Olson, a Republican, in a contest with stark ideological differences.

Cash-strapped schools have thrust the race for Washington's education chief into the spotlight. Incumbent Democrat Chris Reykdal, who has held the position since 2016, is facing a challenge from Republican David Olson, a school board member from the Peninsula School District in Gig Harbor.

The Superintendent doesn’t have the power to fund education (only the state legislature has that authority), but the Superintendent is an influential voice in funding discussions. Reykdal, a former state legislator, recently submitted a budget proposal to Governor Jay Inslee highlighting a $4 billion shortfall in public school funding. "Chris Reykdal has been state Superintendent of Public Instruction for two terms - since 2016," Robert Cruickshank, a parent and school advocate, explained. "He has championed the need to fund our public schools. In fact, at the beginning of this week, he sent his own budget proposal to the Legislature - as he does every year - and he highlighted the fact that we are $4 billion short of what public schools need."

Reykdal's tenure has been marked by progressive stances on social issues, including protecting LGBTQ students and pushing back against book bans. However, he faces criticism for declining test scores and graduation rates in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Challenger David Olson has tried to capitalize on those issues, campaigning on a platform of addressing problems in schools. However, recent investigations have revealed concerning aspects of Olson's background and views.

"Vivian McCall at The Stranger did look closely - went down to the Peninsula School District in Gig Harbor, where David Olson is on the school board, and found that Olson is in fact a far-right zealot," Cruickshank reported. "Someone who has a very long record of right-wing social ideology - praising Moms for Liberty, saying awful racist things to students, saying awful things about LGBTQ students. At one point, he even questioned how much we should be funding public education."

"Even The Seattle Times, which has had it out for Chris Reykdal all year and for longer, endorsed Chris Reykdal a few weeks ago," Cruickshank noted. "The Seattle Times endorsement of Chris Reykdal went into detail about David Olson's extremist views."

The superintendent race is seen as crucial for the future of public education in Washington, particularly given the ongoing funding challenges and recovery from pandemic-related learning disruptions. Cruickshank emphasized the stakes: "It's really important for the public - and especially those of us in Seattle who strongly support our LGBTQ kids, who believe in anti-racist education - to understand who David Olson truly is and spread the word about why he would be a disaster for public education in Washington state."

This Superintendent of Public Instruction race will be on the general election ballots that are due by Election Day on November 5th, 2024. You can register to vote or update your voter registration online at https://VoteWA.gov.