An average of fewer than 50 people per day have shown up to vote early for the upcoming Chattanooga City Council runoff races in Districts 7 and 9.
As if to kick voters into gear, District 9 incumbent Yusuf Hakeem labeled challenger Demitrus Coonrod "unhinged, a pathological liar and crazy" during a Sunday radio show. Coonrod responded later by denying she was any of the descriptions Hakeem had applied to her but said "unhinged" did fit Hakeem, who she said had "anger management issues."
Hakeem also said Coonrod had called him a "sellout" without explaining what she meant. We're not sure what she meant, either, but she could mine his campaign financial disclosure statement for ammunition.
In the most recent reporting period before the March 7 general election, the incumbent took in $29,500, far and away more money than any other candidate in any of the City Council races. Evidently, six previous City Council wins have made supporters believe he would be a reliable vote for their causes.
Nearly half of Hakeem's total came from architects, developers, engineers, home builders, Realtors, and construction companies and their owners. Another $5,000 came from the political action committee of a local doctors group, $3,500 from unions and $750 from attorneys. He did not receive anything during the reporting period from anyone in his district listing a home instead of a business address.
The district itself runs across Missionary Ridge but also takes in neighborhoods on each side of the ridge including portions of Brainerd, Eastdale, East Chattanooga, East Lake, Glenwood and Highland Park.
Coonrod, who was the surprise runner-up in the four-candidate general election, listed only $950 in receipts. And all of that, according to her campaign financial disclosure statement, came from in-kind contributions for campaign signs, campaign T-shirts and a radio campaign. So, she, like the incumbent, had no direct individual contributions from anyone in the district listing a home address.
Apparently, between the March 7 election and today, there have been no opportunities where Hakeem and Coonrod appeared on the same panel. Coonrod appeared on a panel Sunday during a forum sponsored by the Unity Group of Chattanooga and the Concerned Citizens for Justice, but Hakeem did not attend because he said he believed it was "a setup."
If district residents don't monetarily support the candidates but let outside money decide the race, they have less reason to complain. If there aren't opportunities for the candidates to be seen side by side, voters are less informed. None of that bodes well for District 9, which all the original candidates admitted is in need of more housing choices, new businesses and less crime.