AUSTELL — Cobb County school board Vice Chair David Morgan said this year’s election is different than his last in 2008 because he gets to tell residents in southwest Cobb about what he’s done as their board member over the last four years.

“They are able to ask me about what I’ve done as opposed to talk about what I would do ‘if’ I won,” said the 40-year-old father of two who lives in Austell and is a lobbyist for American Federation for Children.

“The biggest challenge I want to continue to work on is the achievement gaps that currently exist,” he said.

Morgan, who was first elected to the school board four years ago, replacing long-time member Betty Gray, said he has hosted 40 or more town hall meetings and focused on the achievement gap since being elected.

“I have consistently said that this is something that has to be acknowledged and we need to have an action plan on it,” he said, adding that he believes the board spends too little time talking about academic achievement.

“We spend too much time talking about operational topics,” he said.

Morgan said he would support Teach For America even if it meant cutting current staff.

“The best person should get the job,” he said. “The principal should be making that decision and no one should be entitled to their job just because they had it the previous year.”

Morgan said he’s spent his time campaigning this go-round visiting residents door to door, making phone calls and visiting local churches to remind voters that his name is on the July 31 ballot.

Morgan declined to reveal how much money he’s raised to date, saying he wasn’t having any trouble, but according to the campaign finance reports last entered on June 30, he’s raised less than his first-time candidate opponents Karyn Harrison and Dr. Bobby Allen.

According to Morgan’s June 30 report, he has raised about $1,300 and currently has a balance of $537. Harrison has raised about $2,500 and Allen about $4,600.

“People generally give to you, even if it’s a modest amount, if they believe in you and they believe in the work that you are doing,” he said.

If Morgan wins the primary, he would more than likely take the seat for a second term because there are no Republican candidates qualified in his race.