Below are the responses from candidates running to represent the two Western Wake districts. Most candidates submitted written responses. For those who did not, their answers were taken from statements made at public meetings. Some responses were edited for length.

Jim Martin

Background: Martin is an N.C. State University chemistry professor who lives in an unincorporated area near Apex. The father of two magnet school students has frequently spoken out at school board meetings to criticize the new board majority. He's endorsed by the Wake County Democratic Party.

On diversity: "Maximizing student achievement should be the highest priority in any student assignment plan. This goal requires policies and practice that prevent the formation of high-poverty, low-achieving, and/or racially identifiable schools. Such school environments negatively impact students and teachers, imposing unnecessary costs on taxpayers.

"Diversity never was, nor should be, a stand-alone factor for student assignment. Socioeconomic diversity, student achievement, stability and proximity were four of the nine criteria to be considered in the original assignment policy. Unfortunately, both socioeconomic diversity and student achievement were removed from the current policy, while stability and proximity were too often overlooked in previous assignment practice.

"Policies and practice that keep all our schools strong, irrespective of ZIP code, are necessary to ensure Wake County remains one of the best places in the nation to live, work and play."

Cynthia Matson

Background: Matson is the college director of ITT Institute, who lives in an unincorporated area of Wake, near Raleigh. In 2002, she formed Assignment By Choice, a group that pushed for changes in student assignment now being put in place by the new board majority. She is endorsed by the Wake County Republican Party.

On diversity: "All people should be valued and respected rather than being demographically and/or socioeconomically stereotyped.

"WCPSS's student body is very diverse. It is comprised of more minorities than non-minorities. Manufacturing diversity to fill a quota should not be our focus. The focus should be on learning, not busing, and closing achievement gaps, not reallocating gaps by moving them around."

District 8

Susan Evans

Background: Evans is an accountant and small-business owner from Apex. The parent of former magnet-school students has criticized the board majority at several meetings over the past two years. She is endorsed by the Wake County Democratic Party.

On diversity: "Our recent growth has presented challenges for accommodating all of our students and many of our families have experienced undesirable reassignments as we shifted to fill new schools. It is critical that we devise assignment plans that provide more stability for families.

"At the same time, we must realize that a scenario that would lead to a stratified system of schools, divided according to the 'haves' and the 'have-nots' would be costly for our community. Higher-needs schools typically require more financial resources and yield poorer academic results.

"Our magnet program has been a very successful way to provide balancing in schools that might otherwise be underutilized or heavily weighted in higher needs students, while relieving overcrowding in the suburban schools. I fully support expansion of the magnet program and other types of school choices that encourage balanced populations in our schools."

Ron Margiotta

Background: Margiotta is the incumbent board chairman from Apex who was first elected in 2003. The retired small business owner was the lone voice for neighborhood schools on the board for several years until the new majority took office in 2009. He has been endorsed by the Wake County Republican Party.

On diversity: "I support an assignment plan that embraces the values of our student assignment policy.

"Parents want school choices close to their neighborhoods and communities, as well as long-term stability and predictability for their children. The constant shuffling of students under the previous 'diversity' policy caused much disruption yet proved to have no positive effect on academic success.

"I value diversity in our communities and schools, but the top priority of our school system must be the academic achievement of our students.

"Under my leadership, we are implementing an assignment plan based on empowering parents to make the best educational decisions for their children. My focus will continue to be on providing the tools and resources our teachers and principals need to boost student achievement, not on just offering students a long bus ride."