While more than a dozen races in Tuesday's county primary election have only one candidate, the ballot in two contests includes the names of people who have dropped out of the race.
In the Hamilton County Commission District 4 election, former Chattanooga City Councilwoman Debbie Gaines has withdrawn from the race against incumbent and fellow Democrat Warren Mackey.
In District 9, Republican John C. Turner has dropped out of that race, which includes Chester Bankston, Gary W. Neil and Richard Tornquist.
Even though she has dropped out, Ms. Gaines said last week that, if elected, she would serve in office. On March 18, she submitted a letter to Hamilton County Election Commission Chief Deputy Charlotte Mullis-Morgan saying she had withdrawn her candidacy.
Ms. Gaines said she is not campaigning, but her yard signs are still up, which has Mr. Mackey concerned.
"There's a lot of apathy out there," he said. "It's hard to get the vote out."
Bruce Oppenheimer, a Vanderbilt University political science professor, said that, on occasion, candidates who have dropped out of a race have won.
"People will sometimes go in and vote for the person who has a name that's more familiar to them," he said.
Several candidates will win outright on Tuesday. Those include:
* Hamilton County Commissioner Jim Coppinger, who is unopposed.
* Circuit Court Clerk Paula Thompson, who is unopposed.
* Criminal Court Clerk Gwen Tidwell, who is unopposed.
Other candidates are running in contested primary races. The winner won't face a general election opponent. The candidates:
* County Commission District 4 incumbent Mr. Mackey and Ms. Gaines.
* County Commission District 5 incumbent Greg Beck and challenger Bernie Miller.
* County Commissioner District 1 incumbent Fred Skillern and opponent Laura Oakley.
* County Commission District 2 incumbent Richard Casavant and challenger Jim Fields.
* County Commission District 7 incumbent Larry Henry and opponent Gordon Anderson.
* County Commission District 9, an open seat with three challengers: Chester Bankston, Gary Neil and Richard Tornquist.
* Trustee incumbent Carl Levi and challenger Bill Hullander.