REDMOND, OR -- Both people running for Position Five on the Redmond School Board are former educators. But, incumbent Johnny Corbin and challenger Liz Goodrich differ on how they approach the job. The two will face off at a candidate forum Wednesday, hosted by the League of Women Voters.

Goodrich says she's running because the community's voice isn't being heard by every board member. She calls herself curious and a good listener, "I don't particularly think that the way I think things should be done is the way things should be done. I want to hear what our community has to say. The school board has an obligation to engage in conversation with the constituents to find out what it is that they want." She tells KBND News, "I'd like to see some bigger and bolder improvements across the board. The graduation rate at Redmond High School is not great, below the state average, and I'd really like to see that change." Goodrich works at the library, but is a former English teacher. While she's new to elected office, she says she's served the community through her appointment to Redmond's Urban Renewal Advisory Committee, "I think I have a unique set of skills that can be a benefit to the board and by extension, to the community of Redmond." 

Corbin says Goodrich is content with the status quo, "My opponent has a very liberal education that, in my opinion, is a little whacked out. A lot of people have talked about how our education system has been broken. And in my opinion, the same people that broke it are trying to fix it; and in a lot of cases, they don't have a clue." He says he wants to continue being the conservative voice on the board. Corbin, a retired highs school automotive-tech teacher, was elected to the board in May 2015, with 59% of the vote. "I originally got on the school board, I campaigned on three different issues that I wanted to expand," Corbin tells KBND News, "And only one of them has somewhat come across." He says he's made some progress with improving the competitive athletics system, but still wants to expand the SMART Program, and get seniors and veterans more involved. "If I can get reelected by a sizable margin, that should tell - particularly the Superintendent - something: That I'm not just a flash in the pan and the community is supporting what I'm having to say."

Wednesday's League of Women Voters candidate forum starts at 5:15 p.m. at the Redmond library.