VIDALIA, La. — One of two candidates vying for the Concordia Parish School Board’s District 2 is running on the experience he has had with parish schools — but as a parent, not an employee or board member.

Raymond Riley Sr., a 38-year-old letter carrier, qualified last week to run against six-month board appointee Warren DeWayne Brown, 28, for the position. Riley said his experience as a parent &uot;has given me a great knowledge of the needs of the educational system and what we’re going through.&uot;

Riley, himself a 1980 graduate of Vidalia High School, and his wife, Elnora, have two children:&160;daughter Cassidy, a Vidalia High senior, and Raymond Jr., a freshman.

If elected, Riley said he would first work to make teachers’ qualifications more stringent and to find new ways to attract certified teachers to the parish.

&uot;My purpose for running is to try and better the educational system in Concordia Parish and see after the welfare of our children,&uot; he added.

Riley and Brown are running for the School Board post left vacant by the Feb. 13 death of Eddie Coleman due to cancer. Brown was appointed to the post Feb. 22. The election will be held Oct. 7, with a runoff to be held Nov. 7 if needed.

Last week, Brown said he is running &uot;to try and uphold the quality of our educational system … to help guide our children and protect their educational future.&uot;

&uot;Since I’ve already served for a few months, I feel I would be the best candidate, since I&160;already have a knowledge&uot; of the system and the obstacles it faces, he added.

Brown could not be reached for additional comment.

Brown, who has served as a teacher and coach in Ferriday and Tensas Parish, is a 1990 graduate of Vidalia High.

He and his wife, LaShanda, have one daughter, LaBria, 7.