Commissioner John Allen Brooks is running for his second term on the commission on what he says is a record of promises kept.
His challenger, Joe Graham, says Mr. Brooks has been largely absent in his district, a charge Mr. Brooks denies.
District 6 includes parts of Chattanooga, Red Bank and Lookout Valley.
"I think people want to have competent government," Mr. Brooks said. "They want to feel the person they elect treats them with respect. It's not my money. It's other people's money."
Mr. Brooks 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.
John Allen Brooks, D (Incumbent)* First elected to County Commission in 2006* Occupation: AttorneyJoe Graham, R * Ran for Chattanooga City Council in 2009* Occupation: Owner of Accent Printing and Accent Car WashELECTION DATECounty general election is Aug. 5.
According to the county auditor's office, county schools now receive an additional $12.9 million in state funds, which is half of what the county's schools are due. Mr. Brooks said this was accomplished with an additional tax on cigarettes.
Mr. Brooks also wants to combine sewer and water services in the county to make them more efficient.
Mr. Graham said there was an outpouring of support for his bid to replace Mr. Brooks.
He decided to run, he said, because he "felt like it was my civic duty."
"They're not happy with the representation they have now," he said.
Mr. Graham said his top issues are dealing with crime, improving education, bringing in new jobs and improving county infrastructure.
He said he wants to work with companies coming to town and help them get established. He also said he wants to work with the sheriff's office and the local schools to address gang problems by using programs in schools to curb involvement in gangs.
Mr. Graham said Mr. Brooks has accomplished little in his four years, saying he mostly spends his discretionary money and doesn't attend community meetings. Mr. Graham said he's more involved with the district's constituents.
"That's not true," Mr. Brooks said.
Richard Wilson, a professor of political science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, said the District 6 race bears watching. He said he knows both men and called them "two nice people."
He said the outcome could be affected by the number of Republican and Democratic voters who turn out to vote in the state primary, which includes the gubernatorial race.
"If one of those two primaries gets a heavier than usual turnout, then the candidate with that party label will have a better chance," Mr. Wilson said.
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Article: Low turnout, big prospects