District 6 candidates tangle at SETPAC forum

It was hot outside the DoubleTree hotel, but it got even warmer for the two District 6 candidates for the Hamilton County Commission who traded barbs at a Southeast Tennessee Political Action Committee forum.

Republican Joe Graham asked whether the incumbent commissioner, Democrat John Allen Brooks, was spending his discretionary money to get elected.

Mr. Brooks shot back, saying Mr. Graham's brother, Ed Graham, had asked him for $10,000 to redo some ball fields for the Lookout Valley Recreation Association.

"The person contacting me for the check is his brother," Mr. Brooks said.

"It sure is," Mr. Graham said.

Afterward, Mr. Graham declined to discuss his brother, Ed Graham, but confirmed he does serve on the baseball board for the group.

Mr. Graham also questioned whether Mr. Brooks had anything to do with ensuring the county received more basic education funding.

Mr. Brooks has said he ran in 2006 because he felt the county was not getting its fair share of money from the state's Basic Education Program. He said it was his threat to sue the state over the inequity that led to increased funding.

"Do you really think I didn't have anything to do with BEP being changed?" Mr. Brooks asked Mr. Graham.

"Yes, I really do believe that," Mr. Graham said.

For complete coverage, see Saturday's Times Free Press.

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