There is a huge lack of understanding on the part of J. Paul Brown in regard to education-funding issues as shown by his letter to the editor (Herald, July 28.) Thanks to our current state Legislature and our current state representative, Mike McLachlan, our state increased school funding by nearly $500 million during the last year above the already budgeted $1 billion. The funding includes an addition $221 million in the state budget known as the Long Bill, $218.9 million in new funding from the Student Success Act and $40.6 Million in the School Finance Act. The latter includes funding from early childhood education, which during his time in the state legislature, J. Paul Brown voted against. This would have been a simple tax check off that would allow individuals to decide to give some of their own money to the program.

Rep. McLachlan, on the other hand, has put a great deal of effort into moving our state forward in funding education. We all know there are still many needs that public education has, particularly in that we are still recovering from the Great Recession. We need a representative who has the expertise, leadership and understanding of the issues to keep our state moving forward.

J. Paul Brown doesn’t get it. Rep. Mike McLachlan does.

Shari Duhaime

Durango