Featured image: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Chris Jones speaks to reporters in Little Rock Tuesday about his plan to increase Arkansas teacher salaries.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas gubernatorial hopeful Chris Jones is calling for an increase in teacher salaries in the state.
Jones’ announcement on Tuesday follows a push by fellow Democrats to put teacher pay raises on the agenda for a legislative session next month.
Jones endorsed a pay raise proposal that Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson made but has said won’t make it on the session agenda because of lack of support in the GOP Legislature.
According to a release from the Jones campaign, his proposal utilizes a portion of the state’s historic surplus, with a sustainable total long-term funding structure. Among the highlights of Jones’ plan is a proposal to raise minimum teacher pay to $50,000 per year by the end of his first term.
Jones is running against Republican nominee and former White House press secretary Sarah Sanders.
On Sunday, Jones made a campaign stop in Batesville and was welcomed by local supporters at a reception downtown.
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