Richard Barrera runs for California State Superintendent of Public Instruction

HEBER, Calif. (KYMA) - Richard Barrera is one of two candidates running for State Superintendent of Public Instruction in the November 3 election.

Barrera, a longtime San Diego Unified School Board member, met with residents of Imperial County to discuss his vision for public education.

"From 18 years' experience on the San Diego Unified School Board, which is the second largest school district in California, and we have a track record over nearly two decades of investing in our educators, investing in our school facilities, and that has produced the highest academic outcomes of any large urban district in the country," Barrera told Newsl 11 in an interview.

Barrera saw a lack of resources as one area that is lacking right now in all California schools, especially in the Imperial Valley.

"We don't have enough resources in our public schools, which really doesn't make sense when you consider that California is the fourth wealthiest economy in the world," he said. "We should be investing that wealth back into our public schools and particularly in communities like Imperial County."

He said in San Diego, he has already helped boost benefits for educators.

"We have raised teacher salaries by 50% in the time that I've been on the board we provide fully paid family health benefits. We're now starting a strategy of building affordable housing for our teachers, but also our bus drivers and food service workers, special education aides," he explained.

Barrera will face Republican candidate Sonja Shaw at the ballot box on November 3.