KTKA

Patrick Woods is just one of the candidates in the race for Topeka School Board District 3. He was out and about on Monday, campaigning in his Topeka neighborhood.

Woods serves as the education policy advisor to Governor Kathleen Sebelius, and he says that, paired with the fact that he's parent and school volunteer, qualifies him for this important position.

"I think I have a unique perspective as far as I can look at 501 from the 30,000 foot level at the statehouse, and also I'm a volunteer on the ground floor," Woods said.

But Woods is just one of three candidates in this particular primary.

Bill Reid believes he would be a valuable contributor to the Topeka school system. He says many of the problems the district faces could be solved with a little bit of planning.

"We need longer range planning. The current overcrowding situations could have easily been addressed before [they] happened," Reid told us.

A third candidate has not done as much campaigning as his competition. Mark Erickson says elections are out of control and that's why he's doing things differently.

"I'm running a campaign with out political signs. I'm not going to mess up people's yards," Erickson said.

Erickson says, if elected, he would push for early learning programs that help all students get off to a good start.

"We do have some children that are left behind and that's because they start behind, and when you start behind, you end up getting left behind," Erickson added.

But regardless of who comes out ahead in the primary, it's just the beginning of the road for these candidates who say they'll stay busy through the general election and beyond.

The primary race for the third district of the Topeka school board is just one of those in which voters will be asked to make a decision Tuesday.

Other seats on the ballot include district one, where Lover Chancler is facing Janel Johnson and Ben Scott

For the member at large position, incumbent Tim Clothier is up against Aaron Edwards, Nancy Kirk, and Frank Meadows.

After Tuesday's primary, each race will be narrowed down to two candidates.

The general election is set for April third.