With our state’s troubled education system likely to be a key issue in the upcoming election race for Washington’s 5th Legislative District, the Issaquah Valley Elementary School’s PTA will host a forum for the four leading candidates in October.

PTA Legislative Representative, and Issaquah City Councilmember, Tola Marts, announced this week the four winners of the party primaries would answer questions for local voters at an education forum at the school in October.

Incumbents, Rep. Jay Rodne, R-North Bend, and Rep. Glenn Anderson, R-Fall City, are being challenged this electoral cycle by two Democratic candidates from Sammamish, Greg Hoover and Dean Willard.

Hoover will run for Rodne’s position one, and Willard for Anderson’s position two.

While both Hoover and Willard have been nominated and endorsed by the 5th District Democrats, Willard may yet have to win a primary election against David Spring, a community college instructor from North Bend.

Former Issaquah Valley Elementary PTA president and 2010-2011 Issaquah Middle School PTSA Co-President, Kristen Allen-Bentsen, will be master of ceremonies for the event.

The candidates will have up to two minutes for each answer to a series of policy questions, solicited from Issaquah Valley Elementary and district PTA members.