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Gubernatorial candidates Gary Locke and Ellen Craswell are miles apart in their approach to education.
Locke, a Democrat, made increased spending for education a central campaign theme.
The candidate offers few specifics on how much more he thinks the state should spend, or where the money would come from, aside from squeezing more out of taxpayers and raising out-of-state tuition.
Locke's first resort, not his last, will be to ask the Legislature to amend Initiative 601, the tax and spending limitation measure.
Locke wants to allow spending on education to increase along with inflation and the school-aged population.
That might not be possible. The Legislature is loathe to amend citizen initiatives, particularly to raise taxes or increase spending.
And Locke may face GOP leadership in not only the House but also the Senate, where several Democratic incumbents are battling for their seats.
Locke said he also wants schools to adopt more efficiencies, but offered no specific, new ideas to cut costs.
Craswell insists the state should squeeze more out of the dollars already earmarked for schools...