RALEIGH – A Wake County Board of Education member at the forefront of some of the district’s most contentious issues has announced his plans to run for the office of North Carolina superintendent of public instruction.

John Tedesco said Thursday he wants to improve the quality of education throughout the state, and blamed current Superintendent June Atkinson and Gov. Bev Perdue for teacher layoffs and other problems.

The Garner resident was part of the Republican-backed majority that overturned a decade-old student diversity program in the state’s largest school district. Last fall, five Democratic-backed candidates won every open seat on the school board, taking control from Tedesco and his allies.

Two other Republicans have announced plans to run in the May 8 primary. Atkinson is facing one Democratic challenger so far.