Wheeler elected chair of Cobb school board in party-line vote; Banks is vice chair

Jan. 5—MARIETTA — Republican Brad Wheeler was elected chair of the Cobb Board of Education on Thursday.

Wheeler was elected 4-3 in a party-line vote, as Democratic board members Leroy Tre' Hutchins, Becky Sayler and Nichelle Davis voted instead for Hutchins to become chair.

Wheeler replaces Republican David Chastain, whose year-long term as chair concluded Thursday, while Republican David Banks was elected in a party-line vote to continue serving as vice chair for the coming year.

Wheeler said he's excited to serve as chair, a position he has held twice previously, most recently in 2020, and is hopeful that the board will focus on the business of the district and make it a "smooth year."

"We just would like to have everybody's support," Wheeler said.

Banks was the only Republican nominated for vice chair.

Davis also nominated Hutchins for vice chair after the Democrats failed to make him chair. Hutchins, in turn, nominated Sayler for the role, and Sayler nominated Davis for it. Each time, the Democrats came up short.