Carroll school board President Susan W. Krebs filed yesterday to run for the newly created South Carroll seat in the Maryland House of Delegates.

Krebs, 42, of Eldersburg, whose school board term ends in December, said she was intrigued by the chance to combine her educational policy experience with a longtime interest in her community. She decided to try her hand at state politics rather than seek re-election to the Board of Education.

"It's a unique opportunity for South Carroll to finally have representation in our government," she said. "I also see it as an opportunity to bring education to the forefront on the state level. ... And we need some Republicans in Annapolis. I'm really tired of one party running our state."

Krebs got her start as an advocate for parents in South Carroll schools. Her biggest victory was persuading local and state officials to fund and build a middle school to relieve crowding at Sykesville Middle. Oklahoma Road Middle opened in Eldersburg in 1997.

A year later, Krebs earned the most votes in a field of nine candidates seeking three seats in the school board primary election. She was also the top vote-getter in the general election, finishing ahead of two incumbents.

Krebs quickly made her mark on the school board, demanding accountability and second-guessing the administration. More often than not during the first 2 1/2 years of her term, Krebs was on the losing side of 4-1 votes on key decisions, including approval of a new Westminster high school and a vote of confidence for former Superintendent William H. Hyde.

But in the past year and a half, Krebs has rarely been in the minority. Two new members joined a six-year veteran to elect her board president in January 2001. A year later, board member C. Scott Stone - her sharpest critic and frequent board adversary - nominated her to a second year as board president.

Krebs ran a home-based accounting company for 12 years, and worked part time at a technology and financial management consulting company before quitting her job in January 2001 to focus on the school board.

She and her husband, Mark, who works for a mortgage company, have three children.

Krebs joins three other Republicans - Larry Helminiak, Robert L. Tabler Jr. and Michael D. Zimmer - who have filed for the delegate's seat in the new District 9B. Democrat Kenneth Holniker also has filed.