Campaign spending heavy for today's election
By Robert Norrisof The Daily Times Staff
Originally published: August 07. 2008 3:01AM
Last modified: August 06. 2008 10:46PM
Running for office in 2008 is an expensive proposition. Candidates in the Republican Primary for 8th District state Senate have spent a total of more than $351,000 on their campaigns this year.
The race pitting incumbent Sen. Raymond Finney and state Rep. Doug Overbey, described as the most contentious legislative contest in the state, is one of the few contested races in today's Tennessee State Primaries and Blount County General Election.
The polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Campaign disclosure statements filed on July 28 with the state Registry of Election Finance show Overbey reported expenditures of $212,199.11, and Finney reported spending $138,851.51.
There will be no newcomer upset this time.
Four years ago, political observers were surprised when first-time candidate Finney upset incumbent Sen. Bill Clabough in the GOP primary by 409 votes. Finney went on to defeat Democrat Linda Jo Dees in the general election in November 2004 to earn the Senate seat representing Blount and Sevier counties.
The race for Circuit Court Judge Division II has also been heated, and the spending reflects that.
General Sessions Judge David Duggan, the Republican candidate, reported to the Blount County Election Commission expenditures of $101,730.19 through July 28.
Current Circuit Court Judge Mike Meares, the Democrat, reported spending $58,910.58.
Administer of Elections Libby Breeding said Wednesday the Republican senatorial primary and the Circuit Court election were drawing the most attention among voters, but that there also was a lot of interest in the race to replace Overbey as he vacates his 20th Representative District seat.
Vying for that office are Blount County Commission Chairman Robert Ramsey, Commissioner Steve Hargis, Jimmmy Melton of Maryville and Tona Monroe-Ball of Greenback.
The other contested race is the Blount County School Board 6th District seat between Patricia Ann Bell and Brad K. Long.
Running without opposition are:
Incumbent state Rep. Joe McCord, Republican Primary for 8th Representative District,
U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, Republican Primary for the U.S. Senate;
U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr., Republican Primary of the 2nd Congressional District;
Mike Morton, county property assessor;
Chris Cantrell, 2nd District school board;
John P. Davis Jr., 4th District school board.
There are three candidates for the three open commission seats in the city of Townsend: Patrick Jenkins, Charles R. Tippitt, and David Wietlishbach. Voters can select three candidates.
In Friendsville, two are vying for two city commission seats: Gary E. Simerly and David L. Staley. Voters can pick two.
The Democratic Primary for U.S. Senate has six candidates: Mark E. Clayton, Gary G. Davis, Kenneth Eaton, Leonard D. Ladner, William Mike Padgett and Robert D. Tuke.
The 2nd Congressional District Democratic Primary has two names on the ballot, David Ryan Hancock and Bob Scott.
About 5,000 voters cast ballots in early voting in Blount County.
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