A security guard, retired Navy officer and state employed counselor walk into a bar.

David Boynton, Bruce Woolnough and incumbent Cynthia Galloway met at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4 at the Cloverleaf Sports Bar, not for a beverage, but to take questions from the public about their candidacies for Bremerton School District’s Board of Directors Position 4.

It was the most recent installment of the Bremerton Area Chamber of Commerce’s Eggs and Issues forum.

Although the national economy is supposedly on the rebound, one of the biggest challenges facing BSD today is the budget. The question of cuts was the first to be asked of the candidates.

Galloway said it would be difficult for her to decide what programs should be cut, but she would not want to see cuts made to “programs that are succeeding.”

Woolnough said the question would be better if it were turned around.

“A better question would be where not to cut,” he said. He went on to explain there should be no teacher cuts and the board should look at possibly rewriting administrative job descriptions to combine some positions.

Boynton also agreed cutting teachers would be the wrong move.

“Teachers need to be in the class teaching,” he said.

Other questions ranged from security concerns at the high school to how each would handle diversity as a board member and their respective plans for post-secondary opportunities for students.

Woolnough said he is mostly concerned the board does not currently follow through on all of its statements.

“Actions speak louder than words,” he said.

Boynton, if elected, said he would see to it board members attended more PTA meetings and were more accessible to the public.

Galloway said the board’s main concern is to get the current levy passed.

All three candidates agree parents and extracurricular activities are huge factors in the success of students.

“We need to encourage more parental involvement,” Galloway said.