PDF: Tim Boyd District 8PDF: John Allen Brooks District 6PDF: Joe Graham District 6PDF: Kenny Smith District 8EARLY VOTINGEarly voting in the Hamilton County starts Friday and runs through July 30. Here are the locations: Brainerd Recreation Center, 1010 N. Moore Road, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Hamilton County Election Commission, 700 River Terminal Road. 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. Northgate Mall, next to Science Theater on the Belk end. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Source: Hamilton County Election Commission
Kenny Smith, a Democratic candidate for the District 8 Hamilton County Commission seat, continues to lead his opponent - and most everyone else - in fundraising, records show.
Monday was the deadline for quarterly campaign finance reports from candidates for county office.
Mr. Smith, the Hamilton County school board chairman, reported raising $64,338 since August 2009, a figure that includes more than $7,000 raised since April 29. Mr. Smith also reported spending $29,427.
His Republican challenger, Tim Boyd, raised $3,385, much of it from individual contributions, and spent $4,315, according to his reports. Mr. Boyd has criticized union contributions made to Mr. Smith, saying he would be controlled by the unions funding his campaign.
Mr. Smith called the union support behind his campaign a "nonissue." He said his opponent has run a negative campaign and said he would not be controlled by anyone.
"I think negative campaigning, that's never brought a job to Hamilton County, it's never made a safe street and it's never made a commissioner more successful," Mr. Smith said.
Mr. Boyd did not return calls seeking comment Monday evening.
Reports for independent District 8 candidates Terry Turner and Jim Winters were not available Monday.
Mr. Turner said he has not raised any money and is not asking for contributions. Mr. Winters did not return a call seeking comment Monday evening.
The District 6 commission race is also heating up. Incumbent Commissioner John Allen Brooks put $10,000 of his own money into his campaign and raised $8,245 more, records show. He spent $12,474, while his Republican opponent Joe Graham raised $3,600 and spent $143, records show.
Mr. Graham said Mr. Brooks is investing heavily because he knows he will lose his seat.
"I think that's why my opponent is working so hard is because he knows I'm going to win," Mr. Graham said.
Mr. Brooks said "any time you have an opponent, it's a tough race."
"I think if one thinks what they do is important, then you need to put some of your own money in it, so I did," Mr. Brooks said.
Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey, who's running against independent Richard Ford, reported raising more than $15,000 and had a balance of $49,662. Forms were not available for his opponent.