GOP's Barge endorses Dem who hopes to succeed him as state Schools Supt.

TUCKER, Ga. (AP) -- Republican John Barge is endorsing the Democratic candidate seeking to take his place as the state's top education official.<br /> <br /> Barge said Thursday that Valarie Wilson will continue improving Georgia schools and faults Republican candidate Richard Woods for opposing initiatives on testing and teacher evaluations without proposing his own solutions. Wilson says Barge is a fearless leader who is putting students' futures before politics.<br /> <br /> Woods says the endorsement is a sign Wilson will continue with policies Barge used during the last four years. Woods says those plans have failed Georgia students.<br /> <br /> Barge has been on the outs with his own party since opposing a constitutional amendment related to charter schools in 2012. He unsuccessfully ran for the Republican gubernatorial nomination this spring against Gov. Nathan Deal.