Candidates compete for schools chief, lieutenant governor

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Voters will choose candidates for lieutenant governor, schools chief and other statewide offices in California’s June 5 primary.

The race for superintendent of public instruction is shaping up to be an expensive showdown between unions and charter school advocates. Assemblyman Tony Thurmond and former Los Angeles schools executive Marshall Tuck are frontrunners in the race. Unions are backing Thurmond. Charter school advocates support Tuck.

Several Democrats have emerged as front-runners in the crowded contest to become lieutenant governor. State Sen. Ed Hernandez and former diplomats Eleni Kounalakis (eh-LEHN-ee KOO-na-LAHK-iss) and Jeff Bleich (BLY-sh) all say they want to lower college costs and oppose oil drilling off the California coast.

Five candidates are vying to be treasurer. Incumbents are trying to keep their jobs as secretary of state and controller.