A member of the Republican majority elected to the board in 2009, Cary resident Goldman became the third GOP-backed member to hint or state outright that he or she would like to move up the political ladder.

Board member Chris Malone has said he is out to win the Republican primary spot for a redistricted House seat that represents areas from Wake Forest to Morrisville. And John Tedesco has all but confirmed that he'll seek the Republican nomination for state superintendent of public instruction.

In a news release issued Monday, Goldman said Gov. Bev Perdue's decision to seek a half-cent increase in the state sales tax moved her to consider a run for an unspecified higher office.

"I have been contemplating a run for higher office for quite some time," Goldman said in her statement. "This recent $750 million tax hike proposal by the governor just doesn't make sense. ... The real solution is fiscal responsibility, something Raleigh has not seen lately."

Democrats now hold five of the nine school board seats. Should she remain on the board, Goldman likely would be in the minority through 2015 because only the four seats held by Republicans will be on the ballot in the 2013 election.

Malone said his move isn't related to last fall's elections or the prospect of being in the board minority, noting he announced his candidacy for the state House before last fall's elections.

Staff writer T. Keung Hui contributed to this report.