If early voting results are any indication, Hamilton County voters don’t seem too interested in who sets their tax rates and puts up money to teach their children.
Of 207,885 registered county voters, just 2 percent voted early in the primary election, election records show.
Election experts and officials attribute tepid early voting turnout to the incumbency factor and an overall lack of hotly contested races. Seven incumbent commissioners are running for re-election, and two seats are open. Incumbents often are favored in elections.
“You have only two open seats and a lack of contested races,” said Dr. Richard Wilson, a political science professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. “Unless there’s an overwhelmingly popular person running in any of those districts, you’re going to have only the friends of those people who are going to go out and vote.”
One election official said it can be difficult to appreciate the importance of some offices.
“Most people have no clue what the County Commission is responsible for,” said Hamilton County Election Commission Chief Deputy Charlotte Mullis-Morgan. “They set our tax rates, they fund the schools, they set voting lines.”
Two veteran commissioners decided not to run again, creating the open seats. Bill Hullander is leaving his District 9 post to pursue election as Hamilton County trustee. Mr. Hullander first was elected to the commission in 1998.
In District 9, three Republicans — school board member Chester Bankston, Gary Neil and Richard Tornquist — are vying for Mr. Hullander’s seat.
Curtis Adams, the longest-serving county commissioner, is not running to represent District 8 for the first time in 22 years. He will become the city manager of Crossville, Tenn., in Cumberland County.
TURNOUT* Early voting turnout in 2010: 4,411 (out of 207,885 registered voters)* Early voting turnout in 2006: 6,157 (out of 182,250 registered voters)Source: Hamilton County Election CommissionTRUSTEE RACEBoth candidates for the Hamilton County trustee’s office favor consolidation of property tax collections with Chattanooga’s treasurer’s office, but their views differ widely beyond that.Incumbent Carl Levi faces challenger and Hamilton County Commissioner Bill Hullander. Mr. Levi said his office is run efficiently, but Mr. Hullander thinks the county tax office could be more customer friendly.The trustee handles the county’s money, including property taxes and bankruptcy functions for the county and its surrounding municipalities, according to county records.The trustee’s term of office is four years, and the salary is $100,771.60, records show.POLLS OPENVoters can cast their ballots Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.ONLINEGo to timesfreepress.com/news/politics for more coverage of Tuesday’s primary elections.
Kenny Smith, chairman of the Hamilton County Board of Education, is the unopposed Democratic candidate for Mr. Adams’ seat.
Two Republicans also want the seat — primary opponents Tim Boyd and Jack Martin. Mr. Smith will face either Mr. Boyd or Mr. Martin in the Aug. 5 county general election.
Commission races in District 1, District 2, District 5 and District 7 have incumbents battling primary challengers. Each of the contested races is among Republicans except for District 5, in which incumbent Greg Beck faces challenger Bernie Miller.
Both men are Democrats. District 6 Commissioner John Brooks, a Democrat, is unopposed in the primary as is his Republican opponent, Joe Graham. The two will square off in August.
Jim Coppinger and Warren Mackey, commissioners of Districts 3 and 4, respectively, are running unopposed to reclaim their seats.
“I don’t mean to take away from the seriousness of the offices, but people are busy,” Dr. Wilson said. “There’s a lack of drama. You don’t have a lot to attract attention.”
County commissioners earn an annual salary of $20,745, records show.
The county mayor’s seat is a three-way race in the Republican primary among incumbent Claude Ramsey, who is running for a fifth term, and challengers Richard Rankin and Basil Marceaux Sr.
The winner faces independent Richard Ford in August.