Jim Martin announces candidacy for school board

Jim Martin officially announced today that he will seek the District 5 seat on the Wake County school board.

Martin has been vocal over the past year in criticizing the elimination of the diversity policy and accusing the school board of engaging in racial discrimination. But the N.C. State chemistry professor and parent of two magnet students, including one at Enloe High, doesn't bring up the diversity issue in his press release.

Instead, Martin lays out goals such as not being politically partisan, pushing for a comprehensive education, lobbying for more school funding and reducing bureaucracy on teachers.

"As a board member he will not 'subordinate the education of children and youth to any partisan principle,' but will respect the differential authority for governance by the Board, and administration by the Superintendent and Staff (Board Policy 1000, 1005)," according to the press release.

Martin also touts his education experience at N.C. State and serving on the school board's economically disadvantaged student performance task force.

The one other person quoted in the press release is former Enloe High parent and PTSA president Adrienne Lumpkin, who like Martin regularly criticizes the school board majority during the public comment sessions at meetings.

“Jim has been actively involved in supporting quality education for ALL students, offering great insights and positive recommendations through public comment at board meetings,” Lumpkin said in the press release.

Martin, like outgoing District 5 board member Anne McLaurin, is a registered Democrat.

No other candidates have announced yet for the realigned District 5 seat. Now it runs from ITB down toward Fuquay-Varina and Holly Springs.

One interesting thing to consider is that Martin could have been running against school board chairman Ron Margiotta had he not been moved this year from District 8 to District 5 in the redistricting plan.