Why have attack ads hit the county mayor’s race?

Weston Wamp defends himself from accusations by his opponents that his campaign is getting dirty

CAHTTANOOGA (WDEF) –  The three Republican candidates for Hamilton County Mayor are raising the stakes, now that supporters of Weston Wamp are running their own commercials.

Statements from Matt Hullander and Sabrina Smedley are complaining about what they call “attack ads” from Wamp’s camp.

These ads have appeared on flyers and radio spots.

However, Wamp told us today that Hullander and Smedley are wrong in tying them to him.

“We have nothing to do, we are disconnected from that group… and they know that. I mean you can’t campaign and these outside groups can’t have anything to do with each other. And to be honest with you… this is the last stage of a tough race. That has a big bearing on the future of our community. And neither of them… they are not victims.”

Hullander accused Wamp of allowing the independent messages from a group called “Chattanoogans for Responsible Government.”

Hullander says Wamp is doing it because he’s running, quote, “a distant third in the race.”

Election Day is May 3rd.