Mary Kathryn Diggs, 74, has announced her candidacy for a seat on the Mathews County School Board.

Diggs said that running for a seat on the board was “not on my radar,” but having been involved with the public schools, she was concerned about Mathews losing good teachers to other districts year after year.

“A strong school system attracts families, as does a welcoming community and thriving businesses,” she said. “We have had all of that in the past, but the climate has changed.”

If elected, Diggs said her focus would be on retaining caring and qualified teachers and paying them sufficiently. Many people make decisions on where to live based on how good the school system is, she said, so strengthening the school system could attract more families, shoring up the tax base.

“A strong school system is an asset to all Mathews citizens,” she said.

A native of Mathews, Diggs said she is the middle of three girls whose parents “loved and guided with Christian values and ethic...