Hamilton County political parties looking to keep it classy

KEY DATES* Feb. 20 -- Qualifying deadline for county primary races* May 6 -- County primary election* Aug. 7 -- County general election and state primaryCandidates seeking to qualify for the May 6 partisan primaries:Joe Manuel // R // Chancery Judge // Part 1Pam Fleenor // R // Chancery Judge // Part 1Jeffrey Atherton // R // Chancery Judge // Part 2Larry Henry // R // Circuit Court ClerkRon Parson // R // Circuit Court ClerkJ.B. Bennett // R // Circuit Court Judge // Division 1Catherine Cate White // R // Circuit Court Judge // Division 1Jeff Hollingsworth // R // Circuit Court Judge // Division 2L Marie Williams // R // Circuit Court Judge // Division 3W. Neal Thomas III // R // Circuit Court Judge // Division 4Sherry Paty // nonpartisan // City Court Judge // Division 1Russell Bean // nonpartisan // City Court Judge // Division 2Bill Knowles // R // County ClerkRandy Fairbanks // R // County Commission District 1Fred Skillern // R // County Commission District 1Jim Fields // R // County Commission District 2Marty Haynes // R // County Commission District 3Kirkland Robinson // D // County Commission District 4Warren Mackey // D // County Commission District 4Pam Ladd // D // County Commission District 4Greg Beck // D // County Commission District 5Isiah Hester // D // County Commission District 5Joseph Graham // R // County Commission District 6John Allen Brooks // D // County Commission District 6Phil Smartt // R // County Commission District 7Perry Perkins // R // County Commission District 7Sabrena Turner // R // County Commission District 7Pat Fountain // D // County Commission District 7John R. Taylor Sr. // D // County Commission District 7Curtis Adams // R // County Commission District 8David F. Munger Jr. // D // County Commission District 8 - withdrawnTim Boyd // R // County Commission District 8Brent Lambert // R // County Commission District 8Chester Bankston // R // County Commission District 9Jim Coppinger // R // County MayorRichard Ford // I // County MayorBill Hullander // R // County TrusteeBrian White // D // Criminal Court ClerkVince Dean // R // Criminal Court ClerkGwen Tidwell // D // Criminal Court ClerkBarry Steelman // R // Criminal Court Judge // Division 1Rebecca Stern // R // Criminal Court Judge // Division 2Don Poole // D // Criminal Court Judge // Division 3Neal Pinkston // R // District AttorneyGary Behler // R // Juvenile Court ClerkRob Philyaw // R // Juvenile Court JudgeSteven Smith // R // Public DefenderPam Hurst // R // Register of DeedsRyan Epperson // R // Register of DeedsPaul Parker // R // Register of DeedsJim Hammond // R // SheriffChris Harvey // R // Sheriff

With early election records showing partisan primary contests in 11 Hamilton County races, Republicans and Democrats alike are training candidates to mind their P's and Q's.

So far, there are Hamilton County GOP primaries for the Chancery Judge Part 1 and Circuit Court Judge Division 1 posts; the Circuit Court Clerk seat; the Register of Deeds position; the Sheriff's Office and the County Commission's District 1, District 7 and District 8 spots.

County GOP Chairman Tony Sanders said the party will hold its second candidate training session Monday at the weekly Pachyderm meeting at party headquarters, 1428 Chestnut St. The party held a half-day session a few months ago, Sanders said.

The party is trying to teach candidates how to run effective, clean campaigns -- especially since they will be facing fellow party members on May 6.

"We are going to bring in people who have run campaigns and teach people what to spend time on and what not to. It's all about keeping the focus. What's the big picture? We're trying to win an election," Sanders said.

That means convincing rival Republicans to limit personal attacks and infighting.

"You can debate the issues and talk about what you are going to do. But when you get into the personal attacks, it's not going to help you win your election. And it will come back in the general election and give the opponents ammunition," Sanders said.

Monday will be the last session the Republicans put on before the primaries, but Sanders said candidates will get a new curriculum before the general election on Aug. 7.

"It's a very different election in August," he said.

The Democrats have fewer primaries, but the primary principles are similar, party Chairman Terry Lee said.

Local Democrats are slated to face off in the Criminal Court Clerk race and commission districts 4, 5 and 7, according to early election documents.

Lee said his party is not too concerned with the primaries getting ugly. The Democrats are focused on identifying and contacting potential voters -- and raising money.

But he said if the general elections get rough, the Democrats will respond.

Referencing the 2013 Chattanooga elections, Lee said the local left has learned turning the other cheek doesn't work in politics.

"We are not going to sit back this time if they say things that are untrue. We tried to show the Christian, nice-person approach -- and that didn't work. We aren't just going to sit back and take it this time," he said.

The Democrats have held several training sessions covering election etiquette and public speaking. But they've also taken tips from their national counterparts by using technology and voting records to identify the local audiences candidates need to target, Lee said.

Computer services like VoteBuilder and Catalist have been showing the local Democrats what voter groups exist in the area and what they are looking for.

"It's a pretty amazing piece of technology as far as being able to analyze past voter history. [President Barack Obama's] campaign has changed the whole ball game over the past few years," he said.

Knowing whom to reach -- and who not to bother with -- can cut a candidate's expenses by 40 to 60 percent, Lee said.

"It's even more important -- not only when you have limited resources. It helps you identify the people who will be making decisions, the independents and even leaning Republicans," he said.

Contact staff writer Louie Brogdon at lbrogdon@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6481.

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