Rich Parker threw his hat into the ring last weekend.

He didn’t really have a hat, but he did have signs and supporters, which was enough to announce his intention to run for the South Whidbey Board of Education. He did so by appearing in the Maxwelton Fourth of July parade as a candidate.

Parker, his wife, Christina, and the couple’s two children were joined by several people carrying signs in support of Parker’s bid for the board.

The handmade signs carried a basic message: “Elect Rich Parker for School Board District 5.”

Parker’s 5-year-old daughter, Sarah, carried a sign saying “My Daddy for School Board.”

“Serving on the school board has been a goal of mine,” Parker said Monday.

A Whidbey resident for 10 years and co-founder of Big Mind Media, an Internet software company in Langley, Parker has indicated interest in running for the board for more than a month.

Parker said the South Whidbey parade seemed like a good way to start a campaign.

“I think the Maxwelton parade is one of the most fun events on the Southend,” he said. “It seemed very appropriate to announce my candidacy in that way.”

Before moving to Whidbey Island, Parker taught high school for 10 years in Connecticut. He was also a flight instructor for five years in Colorado, where he worked with high school students interested in aviation careers.

Parker lives on Pinewood Circle in Langley, which is within the Position 5 board of education boundaries.

Parker is the first candidate to announce his intention to run for one of the board’s three open seats. There are two other school board positions on this fall’s ballot are Position 2, held by Ray Gabelein Jr., and Position 1, held by Bob Riggs.

The school board seats will be filled in the Nov. 4 general election.

The deadline for filing for all offices that will be on the fall ballot is Aug. 1.