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(KSL News) -- With the Republican primary over, the race for governor is heating up between the GOP and Democratic candidates. Today Scott Matheson Jr. outlined what he says will be the top priority of his campaign.
It's public education, something that is always a hot topic in politics, but it's what the Matheson campaign believes is the issue the majority of Utahns are concerned about and the issue he wants to be the focus of the governor's race.
Scott Matheson Jr. chose Granite Park Junior High for his backdrop, as he outlined what he plans to change in public education if he is elected governor. The unveiling of his education plan is really the kickoff of Matheson's ideas he will push through November.
Specifically Matheson wants to improve teaching in the classroom, through mentoring and professional development, to recruit new teachers, and reward and keep good teachers in the profession.
Scott Matheson Jr., (D) Candidate for Governor: "That we reward high performing teachers when they perform very well, and we provide flexibility in the system that will allow us to retrain or replace teachers that are not meeting the expectations the system should demand."
Matheson also wants parents to get more involved in the children’s education, volunteering at school up to ten hours a year. Matheson says he supports allowing parents to choose which public school their children attend, however his education plan opposes tuition tax credits and vouchers, which he argues would take away resources from public education and make it difficult for schools to improve.
Of course, besides education Matheson will rollout his stand on other issues, such as jobs and transportation. And Jon Huntsman Jr. plans to do the same in what will certainly be a summer and fall filled with politics.
