The three candidates vying to represent the Kansas House of Representatives 65th District met on the stage of the C.L. Hoover Opera House Wednesday night for a Candidate Forum hosted by the Junction City area Chamber of Commerce.

Incumbent Allan Rothlisberg, Republican,  Grandview Plaza, along with Lonnie Clark, Republican, of Junction City, and Tom Brungardt, Democrat, Junction City, all addressed questions regarding education.

They were each asked their opinions on common core education. As a former educator Brungardt explained that he see’s a need for common core because of Fort Riley.

“Over 31 years of teaching I noticed lots of students would come to my class and they were in various places. Some of them better educated than others, some of them had gone to a school teaching vastly different things in different orders. Common core would eliminate some of that problem,” Brungardt said.

Clark said that he isn’t opinionated on the topic at this time but has talked to a number of teachers that are for it. He also explained that he believes it is highly misunderstood.

“I can see a lot of benefits of common core. I think it is highly misunderstood because a lot of people have connected President Obama to common core and I think that has given it a little bit of a stigma,” Clark said.

Rothlisberg explained that he is against it and explained that it is all about testing.

“If you thought no child left behind act had a lot of testing, try common core.  You have much more testing going on there now. I listen to a lot of teachers we take a look at the fact that their always complaining about teaching to the test, and I feel sorry for them. Because if you’re teaching to the test you are not teaching subject matter, not at all,” Rothlisberg said.

When it came down to funding education each of the candidates agreed that it is important to fund schools properly.

Rothlisberg explained he believes that most of the funding for education is wasted on administration costs.

“When you take a look at the charts, at the grow charts between students, and teachers, and the percentage of increases for administrators, it’s the administration that’s been increasing quite heavily,” Rothlisberg explained.

Clark expressed that he believes that if the state is going to properly fund education it needs to be spent on the students.

“I think if we’re going to spend money, we should be spending it on our children, the future of our country, the future of this state. Being an educator and knowing a little bit about education, I understand what these people go through when funding is cut for our children,” Clark said.

Brungardt explained that providing proper funding increases the quality of education they will receive, which increases a student’s quality of life.

“We know that children learn best when they are in smaller classes. We know that they learn best when they are taught by licensed, highly qualified, professional educators. We know that they learn best when they have appropriate resources allocated toward their schools. We know that these things should be allocated in a thoughtful manor.”

Wednesday’s candidate forum was held ahead of the August 5 primary election, which will have Rothlisberg and Clark vying for the republican spot on the November ballot against Brungardt.

The 65th District includes part of Junction City, rural areas of Geary County, Milford, and Grandview Plaza.