Three seats on the Marion County School Board are up for election this year.

In the District 4 race, incumbent Angie Boynton faces three challengers and a host of questions about some recent bizarre behavior.

In her four years on the board, Boynton said she has worked on alternative discipline programs for students and stayed true to conservative values holding the line on taxes and fees.

But she's likely best known for confusing comments made at a School Board meeting earlier this year, talking directly to the camera saying she and her family were in danger after deciding secrets of the 9/11 attacks. 

"You do not have my daughter hostage. She is safe. My response is I cannot bow down to Islam," Boynton said to close out a February meeting.

In her first on-camera interview since the remarks, Boynton defended her comments, adding that the threats were real and she wasn't experiencing any delusions.

"Maybe people don't agree with that I responded, but I did," Boynton said. "I only have one child, and I love her."

Boynton said that with assurances from federal agents, the situation is now over. She’s ready to move on in her candidacy.

"Students and parents need a voice, and I want to continue being that voice for you," she said.

Boynton's challenger are steering clear of the controversy and focusing on the issues the district faces, including ranking near the bottom of the state in school grades.

The challengers include Chase Basinger, a music ministry leader who in a phone interview said he's against common core and new state standards and wants to reestablish the business community's confidence in schools.

Teachers Diane Schrier and Jamie Bevan are the other two challengers.

Schrier said she's uniquely qualified to lead having worked in theater, finance and as a teacher. She said the district needs to work with the state to improve how they assess student achievement.

"All (of) this forced testing — it's almost criminal what we are doing," Schrier said. "We are not able to educate when we are educating to a test."

Bevan, who was born and raised in Ocala, is married to a Marion County Sheriff's Office detective. She wants schools to be a safe haven for children who are victims of bullying or child abuse. She also would propose free programs to education children on who to reach out to in times of emergency.

"We do have schools in Marion County which are doing well, so why don't we look at those schools and see what they are doing?" Bevan said.

With four candidates vying for the position, it's possible the District 4 campaign will continue into November. If no one receives more than 50 percent of the vote, the top two vote-getters will have a runoff election.