Morrison won't run for Wake school board

Five of the board's nine seats are up for grabs this year, those of Morrison, board Chairman Ron Margiotta and members Kevin Hill, Keith Sutton and Dr. Anne McLaurin. Hill said Wednesday that he would run again.

Morrison was appointed to her seat in Sept. 2009 to fill a vacancy. 

In a statement, she said, "I have done and will continue to do what I promised to the board members who appointed me to fill an unexpired term – devote my energy, experience and time to serving the people of Wake County."

Morrison listed four reasons for her decision not to run, including the move of the Wake County Public School System central office from Raleigh to Cary and the potential for partisan influence during the campaign season.

In the course of her term, Morrison has regularly sided with McLaurin, Sutton and Hill in the minority as the board considered issues including the controversial change in the district's long-standing student assignment policy.

The filing period for school board candidates begins July 25.