Equipping young generations with the tools necessary for the 21st-century economy is very important.

In our district, Derek Kilmer has been a tireless advocate for education.

As the son of two schoolteachers and the father of two young daughters, he knows firsthand the importance of education.

That’s why in his time in Olympia he has worked hard at securing funding for new scholarships to help students pay for college and passed accountability measures to help students succeed in the 21st century.

He’s also worked hard to bring a new engineering program from Washington State University to Olympic College in Bremerton.

This will not only allow new job opportunities for residents in our district, but also ensure that employers such as Naval Base Kitsap can hire locally for years to come.

As the parents of a college student, we will vote for Derek Kilmer in this election because his priorities are with us and our future generations.

JOANA & JIM LEHNERT

Gig Harbor