Walker County school board candidate Brent Howard Barnes says keeping students’ interest at heart is the key to his campaign strategy.

“I have no specific issues or platforms to run on,” Barnes said. “My biggest thing is approaching every issue on the school board with an open mind and studying the facts.”

Barnes will square off on Tuesday, Nov. 5, against Alan Painter for the Walker Board of Education Post 3 seat now held by Mike North who will not see reelection. Both candidates are unopposed in the Aug. 20 primary election.

Barnes feels the main issue now affecting the school system is the special-purpose local-option sales tax, or SPLOST, he said.

“I think that the big issue is the schools and facilities, and I would like to assist in improving those facilities wherever possible,” Barnes said.

“I want to be a part in making the school system better for children today and better for children for years to come,” Barnes said. “I am delighted to say that I am a product of the Walker County School system, and I wish to ensure that the educational system will make our children and future generations successful and proud.”

Barnes, a resident of Walker County for 34 years, has been operations manager for Browning-Ferris Industries, also called BFI Waste Systems, for the past 19 years, he said.

Barnes and his wife Tammy, who has taught at Chattanooga Valley Middle School for eight years, are both graduates of Chattanooga Valley High School. Barnes also attended Chattanooga Valley and Mountain View elementary schools.

Barnes’ three children attend Walker County schools. Garrett is a freshman at Ridgeland High School, Zach a seventh grader at Chattanooga Valley Middle School and Jeremy a sixth grader at Chattanooga Valley Middle School, he said.

Barnes said he enjoys coaching at the Chattanooga Valley Recreation Association, where he has coached baseball, basketball and football for the past 10 years. He served as the association’s vice president for one year.

Barnes is also an active member of Chattanooga Valley Baptist Church. For the past two years he has served as commander for the church’s AWANA program, he said.

Voters can contact Barnes at (706) 820-9693 or by mail at P.O. Box 572, Flintstone, GA, 30725