Larry Seaquist announces for state Superintendent of Public Instruction
Former State Rep. Larry Seaquist, a Gig Harbor Democrat, made his bid for the nonpartisan position of state Superintendent of Public Instruction official Thursday.
Seaquist had said earlier he was strongly considering a run. Incumbent Randy Dorn isn’t running for a third term, and the field has drawn several other candidates including Erin Jones of Lacey, an administrator with Tacoma Public Schools, and state Rep. Chris Reykdal, a Tumwater Democrat.
In his announcement Thursday, Seaquist said that he wants to lead changes that will result from the newly enacted federal education law, the Every Student Succeeds Act. He lists other goals as increasing graduation at all levels, cutting dropout rates to near zero, restoring trust in teachers and breaking the legislative deadlock over education funding.
Seaquist served 32 years in the U.S. Navy as a warship captain and at the Pentagon. He is also a former fellow at the Brookings Institution.
More information is available on his website, www.larryseaquist.com.
Debbie Cafazzo: 253-597-8635, @DebbieCafazzo
This story was originally published January 7, 2016 at 2:48 PM with the headline "Larry Seaquist announces for state Superintendent of Public Instruction."