The chairman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party has called on County Clerk Bill Knowles to return campaign donations days after Knowles announced he would join the Republican Party.

"Despite the fact that we find Mr. Knowles' decision regrettable and particularly disagree with his stated reasons, let me be clear that we harbor no ill will toward Mr. Knowles or his family," party Chairman Jeff Brown said in a statement released Wednesday.

Knowles announced his party switch Monday.

According to campaign finance records, he raised nearly $30,000 since January 2009.

"Given by his statements that he has been discussing this with the GOP for quite some time, we do ... find his lack of transparency very troubling," Brown said.

Knowles declined to respond to Brown's statement, but he said he didn't intend to return the money.

"People donated to me to be elected county clerk," he said.

Brown is "trying to find an issue, apparently," he added.

Knowles did not discuss his switch with Democratic Party officials, Brown said, even though Knowles "made use of our party's resources."

Knowles successfully ran 10 times as a Democrat, but he said he switched because he advertised "conservative values" during his campaign.

Republicans openly encouraged voters not to vote for his Republican opponent, Chester Heathington.

Contact Dan Whisenhunt at dwhisenhunt@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6481. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DWhisenhunt.