Election officials fret about lackluster turnout for this year's Knoxville City Council race. But campaign spending has proved strong - among the highest in recent council races.
Campaign disclosure figures for the 10 candidates on the ballot and lone write-in show more than $115,000 has been spent on the general election since September. Council races have historically seen much lower spending.
Tuesday is Election Day. Polls are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Final and unofficial results likely will be ready by 10 p.m. or 10:30 p.m. Tuesday.
City voters can cast ballots for candidates in all districts in the general election.
Five City Council seats are up for election: Districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6. New officeholders will take each seat.
Many Knoxville residents can attest to the aggressive spending by candidates. Their mailboxes have been filled for weeks with flyers, cards and personal notes.
Total spending amounted to about $80,000 for October and early November, when the campaign is at its most intense, figures show.
The latest finance forms for October show Wayne Christensen and Andrew Roberto, vying for the District 2 seat, have spent the most. Records show Christensen spent about $11,017 and Roberto spent $22,117 competing for the West Knoxville seat.
More: Meet the candidates
District 3, covering parts of West and Northwest Knoxville, also has proved competitive. October and early November figures show James Corcoran spent $8,478 and Seema Perez spent $7,330.
In the District 4 race in North Knoxville, Harry Tindell has continued to lead in spending, reporting $9,061 in October. Lauren Rider spent $5,217 and write-in candidate Amelia Parker spent $1,728.
Another closely watched race: District 6, which includes East Knoxville and downtown. Gwen McKenzie reported spending $6,158 and Jennifer Montgomery $3,424.
District 1 covers South Knoxville. Stephanie Welch is competing for the seat against Rebecca Parr. In October, records show, Welch outspent Parr $4,535 to $584.
Most past City Council races spurred far less spending, records show.
In 2011, however, the three at-large seats drew thousands in spending.
For example, in the weeks before the November 2011 general election candidates spent more than $83,000.
In the At Large A race, George Wallace spent $7,870 in October; John Stancil spent $1,838. Wallace won.
In the At Large B race, featuring Marshall Stair and Bill Owen, Stair spent $34,700. Owen spent $2,771.
Stair won.
In the At Large C race, Finbarr Saunders ran against Sharon Welch. Saunders spent $33,817 during the final reporting period before the election, and Welch spent $1,901. Saunders won.