15 votes separate District 5 candidates
Geter edges Beck; 3 incumbents win
A longtime Hamilton County commissioner was tumbled by a newcomer Tuesday night, while another handily fended off a challenge despite controversy and criminal charges.
Katherlyn Geter, a health care activist, squeaked by Greg Beck in the District 5 Democratic primary, according to complete but unofficial totals. No Republican is seeking the seat.
And District 8 incumbent Tim Boyd resoundingly beat challenger Brent Lambert in the Republican primary. No Democrat is running.
“This is one of the most satisfying moments of my life,” Boyd said in a statement Tuesday night.” I cannot begin to thank the people who voted today. They stood by me as the politics of personal destruction played out at an unprecedented level in Hamilton County. I wish I could shake the hands
of every one of the 1,203 good people who voted for me today because they know the difference between right and wrong.”
The District 8 race was down and dirty, with Lambert accusing Boyd of trying to force him out of the race over campaign contributions.
Lambert, the mayor of East Ridge, accepted $3,000 from the developers of Exit 1 and $2,000 from other givers just days after the East Ridge town council approved a $4 million bond issue for the project. Lambert used the money to pay off campaign debt from his 2014 mayor’s race.
Boyd found out and word got back to Lambert. He called Boyd and recorded him saying the information would embarrass Lambert if he stayed in the race. Boyd denied threatening Lambert, but a grand jury indicted him on one count of extortion. That charge remains unresolved.
District 8 includes Brainerd, Concord, East Ridge and Missionary Ridge.
In District 5, Geter positioned herself as the candidate of change against an incumbent she said had lost touch with much of the district. She holds a degree in human service management from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and has worked nearly 20 years helping people navigate the health insurance system. She said she would work to build community partnerships and work closely with the district’s school board representative.
Beck, who joined the commission in 2005, ran on his years of experience in government, community development and law enforcement. He said he wanted another term to oversee ongoing work including rapid residential and business development in the Highway 58 area and improved schools in the district.
The district includes Bonny Oaks, East Chattanooga, Eastdale, Eastgate, Glenwood, Kingspoint, Lake Hills, Ridgeside, Summit, Tyner, Dalewood, Woodmore and the airport area.
In District 1, commission Chairman Randy Fairbanks easily defeated political newcomer Steve Coker. He has no Democratic challenger in August. The district includes Bakewell, Dallas, Falling Water, Mowbray, Northwoods and Soddy-Daisy.
Warren Mackey, seeking his fourth term, defeated Democratic challenger Kelvin Scott and will face independent Chris Dahl in August. The district includes Alton Park, East Chattanooga, Kingspoint 1, Murray Hills 1 and Ridgedale 1 and 2.
Districts 2, 3 and 6 won’t see contests until August.
Incumbent Jim Fields didn’t seek re-election in District 2. Republican Chip Baker and Democrat Elizabeth Baker, who are not related, are campaigning for the seat, which covers Fairmount, Lupton City, Mountain Creek 1, Red Bank 3, Signal Mountain 1 and 2, Stuart Heights, Valdeau and Walden.
In District 3, which covers Hixson, Lakesite and Middle Valley, incumbent Republican Greg Martin faces Democrat Rosabelle Gorman. And incumbent Republican Joe Graham faces a challenge from Democrat David Sharpe in District 6, which include Bonny Oaks, parts of East Chattanooga and Eastgate, parts of Kings Point and Summit, and Woodmore.
Commissioners Sabrena Smedley in District 7 (Apison, parts of Collegedale, Ooltewah and East Brainerd) and Chester Bankston in District 9 (parts of Collegedale, Harrison, Murray Hills, Ooltewah, Snow Hill and Summit) had no opposition in either the primary or the August election.
County commissioners are paid $23,128 a year, with an additional $2,500 for the vice chairman and $5,000 for the chairman.