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The race for the Republican nomination for the 8th District State Senate race has gotten ugly with both local candidates calling foul. Incumbent Sen. Raymond Finney is facing 20th District state Rep. Doug Overbey. Both are Maryville residents.

Joining them in the race for the Republican nomination for the Senate seat is Jim Bishop of Sevier County. Ira T. Lapides, who is a Gatlinburg business owner, is running as an independent.

Finney said the campaign has turned negative.

"I have tried to be a gentleman in this race," he said. "My opponent, unfortunately, is just spreading ... falsehoods. I guess, is the polite way to put it. I heard he has an ad on the radio that says I'm going to raise the price of gasoline 34 cents a gallon. I don't know where in the world he would get this. Nothing could be farther from the truth."

Overbey agrees that the tone has soured.

"It's not pleasant ... being called names, but, over the years, I've developed, both as a lawyer and in public office, a rather thick skin. But, still, I have been called names in this campaign that I never imagined would occur in a Republican primary. That's unfortunate. The public deserves better. What the public wants is candidates and office-holders to engage in a discussion of the issues -- not name calling."

School funding debate

Finney cited ads from the Overbey campaign that criticize his vote on the Basic Education Program (BEP) 2.0 funding program. Overbey has claimed the change diverted $13 million in funds from Blount and Sevier Counties to school systems in Memphis.

"He has vilified me for an education bill vote -- BEP 2.0," Finney said. "Four parts of this five-part bill help Blount and Sevier Counties. One part is less favorable than the old BEP formula. We are working on that with the Comptroller (of the Treasury) John Morgan. We have an initial problem with the former. We're going to fix that."

Overbey said his top focus, if elected state senator, would be the BEP formula.

"We've got to work on the school funding formula that my opponent voted in favor of a year ago, which has cost Blount County and Sevier Counties millions of dollars ... Sevier County has already raised their property tax as a result of that. I have fought those cuts at the Capitol and am willing to keep working hard to stop the flow of schools funds out of East Tennessee. We've got to make the BED formula fairer."

According to Finney, the attack on his vote is a smoke screen.

"The reason he is doing this is that in four years of service he can only find one part of one bill to criticize my vote on," he said. "I have so many ways of criticizing him for votes that I can't get them in an advertisement."

The Naifeh factor

Finney took Overbey to task for voting for state Speaker of the House Jimmy Naifeh.

"He's voted for Jimmy Naifeh for Speaker of the House for the last three times he's had the opportunity," Finney said. "Jimmy Naifeh is an extremely liberal speaker. He blocks pro-life bills. He blocks second amendment rights bills. He is pro-income tax. He is the wrong person to be in the most powerful position in the House of Representatives. (Overbey) supports him."

Overbey said he is opposed to a state income tax.

"I'm the only candidate in this race who has voted against a state income tax," he said.

He also indicated that supports the protection of children.

"We need to continue to fight for and protect the rights of not only the unborn, the newborn and those born with disabilities," 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.