POWDER SPRINGS — First-time candidate and retired educator Brad Wheeler said he’s been busy preparing for the November election for the Cobb school board seat in west-central Cobb, but enjoying every minute of it.

Wheeler, 57, will take on Democratic incumbent Alison Bartlett on Nov. 6 to represent McEachern, Harrison and Hillgrove high schools. If he wins, he will take his seat in January.

He previously said he decided to run in an attempt to help the board focus more on what is “really essential” and to move them in the right direction.

“Our goal should be to provide the best education we can afford for our children,” he said. “It appears we have money for ‘pet’ projects and not essentials in the classroom.”

Wheeler said he’s heard a variety of topics come up while on the campaign trail about what constituents are most interested in regarding the school district.

“It used to be the balanced calendar,” he said. “It’s still a big issue, but you get other concerns from all sorts of different things.”

House Resolution 1162, also known as the charter school amendment, is another topic that seems to be coming up.

“I agree with (Georgia) Superintendent Dr. John Barge on it,” he said. “He speaks an excellent argument. I’m publicly opposed to the amendment, but not charter schools.”

The amendment would allow a revived State Charter School Commission to hear appeals of charter school applications that are rejected by a local board. The Georgia Supreme Curt ruled that the commission was unconstitutional last year.

Wheeler said he doesn’t support submitting a Race to the Top grant application, which the board approved Thursday night.

While Wheeler said he’s interested in academic achievement, especially at the middle school level, “I just don’t like the federal strings that are attached to the grant. They don’t usually end.”

He has also been very vocal about not supporting Teach For America, saying it makes no sense to offer positions to recent college graduates who have not been trained when the district is cutting back on current staff.

“We already have quality people in these positions,” he said. “We need to support them and not slap them in the face.”

In order to get his message out there, Wheeler has been going door-to-door, attending meet and greets and participating in fundraisers hosted by west-central Cobb homeowners.

“It’s a very busy time,” he said. “I kind of enjoy that because it’s not like you’re just sitting around. There’s always something going on, places to go and people to meet.”

He said his campaign against Bartlett has been very similar to the July 31 primary and runoff but different because there have been several people outside of the post that are interested in the schools he’d be representing.

“There’s a lot of people supporting me, and I appreciate all of them,” he said.

According to his most recent campaign finance report, Wheeler has received $5,340.10 in contributions and has a balance of $2,780.81.