The Hamilton County candidate who's in second place in fundraising before the May 4 primary isn't running against the top fundraiser, incumbent county Mayor Claude Ramsey.
He isn't even a candidate for a countywide office.
Kenny Smith, chairman of the Hamilton County school board and an unopposed Democratic candidate for County Commission District 8, reported raising $56,723.59 since August 2009 on his preprimary report, filed Tuesday.
By comparison, incumbent Trustee Carl Levi, a Republican in a countywide race, raised $3,170.88 since January after starting the reporting period with $37,032 on hand, records show. The only candidate who raised more than Mr. Smith is Mr. Ramsey, a Republican, who pulled in $81,950 in contributions since January.
Mr. Smith said he's received several large contributions from unions, including $3,000 from Iron Workers L.U. PAC and $2,500 from the Tennessee State Electrical Workers, among others. He said he is proud and "humbled" by the amount of money he has raised.
Tim Boyd, who is campaigning for the Republican nomination against Jack Martin in the District 8 race, said the numbers show Mr. Smith will be controlled by special interests.
Mr. Smith said he'll be his own man and will represent all the voters of District 8.
Mr. Martin said the amount of money Mr. Smith is getting for his campaign would make it difficult for others to compete with the school board chairman.
"(I'm not) even in the same ballfield," Mr. Martin said. "I'm obligated to nobody, though."
Other notes from Tuesday's reports:
TERMS"Balance on hand last report" -- Amount of money available to candidates before most recent campaign finance reporting period began"Money raised" -- Funds accumulated during most recent pre-primary campaign finance period (includes personal loans to campaigns)"Money spent" -- Funds spent during most recent pre-primary reporting period
* Republican Bill Hullander, who is in a heated race with Mr. Levi in the Republican primary for county trustee, did not submit a finance report as of deadline Tuesday. Mr. Hullander did not return calls seeking comment, and Mr. Levi declined to comment.
Two incumbent county commissioners, Richard Casavant and Greg Beck, also failed to submit campaign finance documents before Tuesday's deadline.
* Mr. Ramsey reported spending $34,446.32 on his campaign, while his primary opponent, Richard Rankin, reported raising no money. Richard Ford, an independent who will be on the August county general election ballot for the seat, also reported raising no money.
* Finance records show that Hamilton County Attorney Rheubin Taylor gave $200 each to county commissioners Fred Skillern, Warren Mackey, John Allen Brooks and Larry Henry, all incumbents. Mr. Taylor said he contributed the same amount to Mr. Casavant and Mr. Beck.
COUNTY COMMISSION
Laura Oakley (R), District 1
Balance on hand last report: $0
Money raised: $3,794.00
Money spent: $3,763.51
Fred Skillern (R), District 1 (incumbent)
Balance on hand last report: $0
Money raised: $11,655.00
Money spent: $7,650.91
David Cantrell, (I) District 2
Balance on hand last report: $0
Money raised: $3,878.00
Money spent: $930.86
James A. Fields (R), District 2
Balance on hand last report: $598.76
Money raised: $3,035.00
Money spent: $2,311.27
Jim Coppinger (R), District 3 (incumbent)
Balance on hand last report: $3,199.31
Money raised: $650.00
Money spent: $93.43
Warren Mackey, (D), District 4 (incumbent)
Balance on hand last report: $5,192.59
Money raised: $13,595.00
Money spent: $10,064.17
Bernie Miller, (D), District 5
Balance on hand last report: $0
Money raised: $8,762.00
Money spent: $6,600.89
John Allen Brooks, (D), District 6 (incumbent)
Balance on hand last report: $5,424.28
Money raised: $3,151.76
Money spent: $7,682.15
Joe Graham (R), District 6
Balance on hand last report: $0
Money raised: $350.00
Money spent: $0
Gordon Anderson (R), District 7
Balance on hand last report: $0
Raised: $1,175.85
Spent: $1,086.74
Larry Henry (R), District 7 (incumbent)
Balance on hand last report: $0
Raised: $19,060
Spent: $4,010.26
Tim Boyd (R), District 8
Balance on hand last report: $0
Raised: $4,450
Spent: $2,011.20
Jack Martin (R), District 8
Balance on hand last report: $0
Raised: $695
Spent: $695
Kenny Smith (D), District 8
Balance on hand last report: $609.93
Raised: $56,723.59
Spent: $14,668.03
William T. Turner (I) District 8
Balance on hand last report: $0
Raised: $0
Spent: $0
Chester Bankston (R), District 9
Balance on hand last report: $0
Raised: $4,630
Spent: $10,100.34
Gary Neil (R), District 9
Balance on hand last report: $0
Raised: $8,550
Spent: $5,826.44
COUNTY MAYOR
Richard Ford (I)
Balance on hand last report: $0
Raised: $0
Spent: $150
Claude Ramsey (R), (incumbent)
Balance on hand last report: $2,159.12
Raised: $81,950
Spent: $34,446.32
Richard Rankin (R),
Balance on hand last report: $0
Raised: $0
Spent: $0
TRUSTEE
Carl Levi (R), (incumbent)
Balance on hand last report: $37,032.00
Raised: $3,170.88
Spent: $24,808.93
SHERIFF
Jim Hammond (R), (incumbent)
Balance on hand last report: $14,810.16
Money raised: $25,925.00
Money spent: $4,116.90
COUNTY CLERK
Bill Knowles (D), (incumbent)
Balance on hand last report: $15,560.15
Raised: $12,350
Spent: $7,478.55
CIRCUIT COURT CLERK
Paula Thompson (D), (incumbent)
Balance on hand last report: $0
Raised: $0
Spent: $0
JUVENILE COURT CLERK
Gary Behler (R),
Balance on hand last report: $0
Money raised: $2,300.00
Money spent: $1,200.00
Ronald Swafford, (D), (incumbent)
Balance on hand last report: $112.92
Money raised: $2,907.77
Money spent: $2,707.07
REGISTER OF DEEDS
Jeff Brown, (D),
Balance on hand last report: $1,207.31
Money raised: $550.00
Money spent: $997.81
Pam Hurst (R), (incumbent)
Balance on hand last report: $0
Money raised: $3,200.00
Money spent: $2,912.40
Candidates who had not filed as of deadline Tuesday
Richard Casavant (R), District 2 commission (incumbent)
Greg Beck (D), District 5 commission (incumbent)
Bill Hullander (R), Trustee
Gwen Tidwell (D), Criminal Court clerk
Richard Tornquist (R), District 9
Chester Heathington Jr. (R), County Clerk