It was all smiles and sportsmanship at a Friday forum for District 8 County Commission candidates.
But after the Southeast Tennessee Political Action Committee forum was over, the Republican in the race, Tim Boyd, continued to criticize his Democratic opponent, Kenny Smith, over a campaign donation he says was suspicious.
“I want to be a representative of the people with no connections with special interest groups,” Mr. Boyd said in his closing remarks at the forum, which he later said were a dig at Mr. Smith’s union contributions.
Mr. Smith, who is by far the leading fundraiser in the race with about $57,000 in contributions as of the last finance report in April, did not perceive the remark that way.
“I’m trying to keep it positive,” Mr. Smith said.
Mr. Smith has a discrepancy on his campaign finance records that raises questions about the source of a $5,000 contribution from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union.
Records dated Jan. 5 show the money came from the union’s national office in Washington, D.C. But on April 24, Mr. Smith filed a revised campaign financial document identifying the union’s Chattanooga headquarters as the check’s source.
Mr. Boyd said Mr. Smith was not being honest with his constituents. Mr. Smith said it was an oversight on his part and he wasn’t trying to hide anything.
Another District 8 candidate at the forum, independent Terry Turner, joked that “Kenny’s got all the money,” but later said he is friends with Mr. Smith.
Jim Winters, the other independent in the race, said he could not criticize Mr. Smith’s union connections, saying his father was a union man.
Mr. Boyd didn’t directly call Mr. Smith out during the forum, but after the meeting he had much to say about his opponent.
“I don’t think he’s the front-runner,” Mr. Boyd said about Mr. Smith. “I think he’s deceiving the public.”
Candidates at the forum answered questions on a variety of topics, but not all candidates were given the same question at the forum. Each candidate was asked his views on consolidating city and county services.
Mr. Boyd said he would consolidate services if it “saves money and makes sense.” Mr. Smith said the county and city should look at consolidation, but it should not start with consolidating law enforcement services.
Mr. Turner said “bigger is not always better” and he would be for consolidation if it “benefits everybody.” Mr. Winters said the county’s schools are “a mess right now” and said it would not be a good idea to merge police services.
The forum also featured candidates in the Chancery Court judge race: Republican Jeff Atherton, Democrat Valerie Epstein and independent Art Grisham.
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