KANNAPOLIS — James Smith says he’s running for a seat on the Kannapolis City Schools Board of Education to build on past success and help the school system reach new heights.

The election for the Kannapolis school board is fast approaching, and the Rowan county seat is up for grabs. Currently, incumbent and current board Chairman Todd Adams fills the board’s one Rowan County seat.

Smith, 66, of Pendleton Drive, and wife Mary Ann Lila moved to Kannapolis several years ago, according to a statement Smith submitted with his candidate form.

“Kannapolis has been good to us,” he wrote.

Now retired, Smith currently serves on the board of the Kannapolis YMCA, a position he’s held for five years. Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in ornamental horticulture from the University of Illinois, and has two grown children, both living in Illinois.

On his candidate form, Smith said that he believes Kannapolis schools are necessary to the future of Kannapolis.

“An important part of our future is our children, whom we must support through our local education system,” he wrote, “I would like to build on the success of our past efforts and create the momentum to improve even more.”

If elected, he said he hopes to bring integrity, openness and fresh ideas to the board.

“I think there’s maybe been some enclosure,” he said.

Smith said he wants to benefit and challenge the children of Kannapolis, and hopes to increase parental involvement in schools. He wrote that joining the Board of Education would be his way of giving back to the people of Kannapolis and helping the city move forward to meet future challenges.

In Rowan County only residents living within the Kannapolis City Schools district may vote for Kannapolis school board candidates. Voting for the Kannapolis City Schools Board of Education will take place March 15 in conjunction with the North Carolina primary. Newly elected members will be sworn in at the board’s April meeting.