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Incumbent state Sen. Raymond Finney and state Rep. Doug Overbey, his main challenger for the Republican nomination for his 20th District seat, used a League of Women Voters forum to challenge each other's voting records Tuesday night.

Overbey began his comments with a stab at Finney's vote on the BEP 2.0 funding program, which he claimed diverted $13 million in funds from Blount and Sevier Counties to school systems in Memphis. At a previous legislative forum, Finney, who voted for the bill, said his vote wouldn't have changed the outcome.

"It is incumbent upon you to make yourself heard and make your vote count," Overbey said.

Finney countered that he voted for the complete package, which included teacher salary increases and other needed funding, in contrast with Overbey's vote against the bill.

"He voted against a number of issues that are important to education," Finney said.

In reply, Overbey emphasized that he was opposing the shifting of BEP funds to other parts of the state.

"You bet I did," he said.

Finney said that if re-elected that he would continue working to improve the BEP fiscal capacity model, which resulted in the funding shifts.

In his introductory comments, Overbey also challenged statements that he attributed to Finney, regarding Overbey's involvement in civic organizations during his career.

"Helping create a Safe and Secret Place for newborns is more than joining clubs," he said.

Finney said that he wasn't disparaging Overbey's involvement with civic organizations, but that he, personally, was too busy during his medical career to have much involvement.

"I worked very hard at the hospital," he said. "I make no apologies."

Ira T. Lapides, who is a Gatlinburg business owner, is running as an independent for the seat. He participated in the forum as well.

Lapides received some laughter and applause for several of his comments, which emphasized reforming the way state government does business.

"As a Ph.D. in economics, I have some 'Hows' and we need to start working on them now," he said.

He also indicated that he would work for the rights of smokers and that discriminating against that section of the population was wrong.

"This is not Republican, this is not conservative and this is not civil rights," Lapides said.

Lapides also challenged the idea that a freshman lawmaker couldn't change the status quo.

"So, you can go in and upset the apple cart as was done 2,000 years ago to do something," he said.

Finney was first elected in 2004. He was appointed chairman of the Senate Calendar Committee by Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey in 2007. He was also appointed secretary of the Senate General Welfare, Health and Human Resources Committee. In addition, Finney is a member of the Senate Environment, Conservation and Tourism Committee and the Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee, which approves all state government funding. Finney is also chairman of the Joint TennCare Oversight Committee and is a member of the Joint Select Committee on Children and Youth.

First elected to the House of Representatives in 2000, Overbey is a member of the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee, Health and Human Resources Committee, the Select Committee on Ethics and the Joint Select Committee on Children and Youth. He is chairman of the House Health Care Facilities Subcommittee and a member of the Budget Subcommittee.