Legislative candidates talk education

Democratic challenger Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins assailed state Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, and Republican funding of education at a debate Monday in Haines.

State Sen. Albert Kookesh, D-Angoon, also spoke at the debate. Kookesh’s Republican opponent, Bert Stedman of Sitka, did not participate.

Schools aren’t staying even with inflation, but they could for about $40 million more in funding per year, Kreiss-Tomkins said. That compares to $100 million per year the state spends to keep non-school…