MURRIETA - While it remains to be seen whether this year's race for the Murrieta school board -- in which three seats are up for grabs -- will be crowded, one thing's for sure: The incumbents aren't ready to relinquish their place on the dais without a fight.

Trustees Margi Wray, Ken Dickson and Paul Diffley have said in recent interviews they are going to seek re-election, a proclamation they'll make official when they file their election papers later this month. The registrar of voters office's filing period begins July 16 and runs through Aug. 10.

In the 2005 Murrieta Valley Unified School District board election, longtime incumbent Austin Linsley decided against seeking another term. Eight candidates ended up running for two seats, including incumbent Kris Thomasian. She was re-elected, along with newcomer Robin Crist.

While board camaraderie hasn't been perfect in the past, it's made visible strides over the last two years, as indicated by fewer disagreements both during meetings and away from the dais.

The five trustees have worked together to hire a new superintendent, Stan Scheer, and create a strategic plan that will influence the district's academic and financial decisions for years to come.

The incumbents each had their own reasons for wanting to seek another term, but the common theme among them was that they wanted to finish what they have started, including seeing the strategic plan completed.

The strategic plan includes a mission and vision statement, a set of beliefs, and 13 strategic directions, or general goals, the district should meet in the coming years.

Trustees also said they want to help lead the district as it builds its last three schools and grapples with a slowdown in student growth, which translates to a slowdown in money coming from the state to run the district.

They said they believe their experience and backgrounds will help keep the positive momentum they've created going and maintain continuity, especially for when big decisions are needed regarding district finances or facilities.

Of the three, Wray has served on the board the longest -- 16 years. She said it's gone by fast.

In that time, she said, she counts as one of her biggest accomplishments having a hand in seeing the district build more than a dozen schools to meet rapid growth demands in Murrieta over the last decade.

"We're closing in on the final buildout of schools and I guess you could say I'd like to see this work through to the end," she said.

Wray, an artist, also described the strategic planning process as energizing, and its implementation very important in the coming years.

"As a district we are poised to move forward with a clear focus," she said. "I eagerly and thoughtfully want to be a part of that."

Dickson was appointed to the board in January 1998 to finish an unexpired term, and is currently nearing the end of his second full term. He said he's ready for a third.

"I am pleased with the direction of this district, and I have enjoyed serving the public in this way," Dickson said. "We have a lot of work to do."

Dickson, an attorney, said he wants to help the district meet the challenges of improving technology and building the rest of its schools, among other efforts.

Diffley, elected to his first term in 2003, said he helped bring about the departure of former Superintendent Chet Francisco and the hiring of Scheer, and that he brings "balance" to the board.

He said his future goals, if re-elected, would include making sure every student's needs are addressed through the strategic plan's implementation.

"Part of that was to see to it that every kid got access to every (possible educational opportunity)," said Diffley, a retired teacher. "We are working to see to it, and that's a big deal."

Improving technology and growing arts programs are part of that, he said. But it's also about making sure that programs or important efforts that may have been overlooked in the past, such as the district's home-hospital program, are getting the support they need, he said.

Although it is not yet known who will enter the race to challenge the incumbents, some of the people who ran in the 2005 election said they are considering giving it another shot in this coming election.

Two years ago, in addition to Thomasian and Crist in the race, attorney Richard Ackerman, small-business owner Jan Fletcher, teacher Jacqueline Hanny, market researcher Wyatt Haupt, pastor John Wells and educational consultant Sheree Jederberg were in the running.

Ackerman, Haupt and Fletcher said they are not going to run again. Hanny did not return phone calls seeking comment. Wells said he is undecided, and Jederberg said she is 90 percent sure she'll enter the race.

"It would be nice to have an educator on the board," said Jederberg, a Murrieta resident and director of professional development and quality teacher programs at the Anaheim Union High School District.

Contact staff writer Jennifer Kabbany at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2625, or jkabbany@californian.com. Comment at www.californian.com.

NOMINATION PERIOD

Those living within the boundaries of the Murrieta Valley Unified School District who want to run for election to the district's board of education must fill out the official paperwork from July 16-Aug. 10. Forms are available at the Riverside County Registrar of Voters office and at the school district office. All forms must be filed with the registrar of voters by the deadline.

- MVUSD office: 41870 McAlby Court, Murrieta, CA

- Registrar of Voters: 2724 Gateway Drive, Riverside, CA

- More information: www.election.co.riverside.ca.us