The day after Hamilton County primary elections was something like a hangover for county Election Commission officials, ending with the new administrator calling the 8 percent voter turnout "shameful."
"It's too bad Tuesday was a nice, quiet evening," Charlotte Mullis-Morgan said. "I wish I had the answer to get the people out to vote."
Specific details about Tuesday's 17,388 motivated county voters won't be available for two weeks, Ms. Mullis-Morgan said. But one thing that was obvious, she said, was that young voter turnouts for the 2008 presidential election would "absolutely dwarf" the number of young people who voted in the county primaries.
"You'll be disappointed when you see the numbers," she said.
One resident promised to do his part to keep primary turnout hovering around the same levels in future elections.
"Too much corruption in the political system. Too many false promises," said Robert Phillip, an unemployed Chattanooga resident who did not vote Tuesday.
Others were feeling uplifted Wednesday, possibly as a direct result of voter apathy. One unlikely victory came from Signal Mountain attorney James Fields, who unseated longtime District 2 County Commissioner Richard Casavant by a 9 percent margin.
Mr. Fields attributed his win to the low voter turnout, saying his edge came from direct mailings to a list of diehard District 2 Republicans who voted in the 2002 and 2006 primaries. His election was the closest race on the ballot.
"I really did not expect to beat Dr. Casavant," he said. "From a practical sense, I was running against an incumbent who had a strong base on Signal Mountain."
Mr. Fields won all precincts on Signal Mountain and Walden, records show.
At their regular Wednesday meeting, several members of the Hamilton County Commission scolded the voters who stayed home.
"I was really surprised and disappointed there wasn't a bigger turnout yesterday," County Mayor Claude Ramsey said. "It's a privilege and a responsibility."
A businessman from Signal Mountain agreed with Mr. Ramsey.
"It's our obligation as citizens to vote," said Scott Rix, who cast a ballot in the District 2 County Commission race. "Their activities on economic development and schools are the most important factors."
BY THE NUMBERS207,858 -- Number of registered voters in Hamilton County17,388 -- Number who voted in Tuesday's election8.37 -- Percentage who votedSource: Hamilton County Election Commission
Election officials on Wednesday said they received many angry calls from voters who didn't want to specify a single party in which to vote, although the elections were primaries for the Democratic and Republican parties.
Ms. Mullis-Morgan was more optimistic about general elections in August, when people can "mix and match" their candidate selections.
Those elections might have a greater meaning for Hamilton County, since voters will choose candidates for the 3rd District race for U.S. Congress and the state gubernatorial race that will be decided in November, officials said.
U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., who now holds the 3rd District seat but is giving it up to run for governor, has been working in Washington, D.C., for 16 years.
Gov. Phil Bredesen will complete his second four-year term in office at the end of this year. By law, he cannot run again.
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Hamilton County Primary Elections results