The principal of Belvedere Junior High School in East Los Angeles announced Tuesday that she is seeking election for the Los Angeles school board's newly created District 2, which encompasses Huntington Park, South Gate, and sections of East and Northeast Los Angeles.

Victoria Castro, 47, is the first publicly declared candidate in the primarily Latino district, which was carved out by the Los Angeles City Council last summer to increase Latino representation on the seven-member board.

Castro said she is running for the office because of her desire to make schools safer, cleaner and more effective. She said that violence and racial conflict are among the most compelling problems that need to be addressed.