http://www.wate.com/story/15981304/putting-the-knoxville-mayoral-ads-to-the-truth-test

The polls open Tuesday morning as Knoxville voters choose a new mayor.

Candidates Madeline Rogero and Mark Padgett have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars each and now they're pouring that money into radio and TV ads.

6 News puts one ad from each campaign to the truth test on Monday. 

Madeline Rogero's latest TV ad, says, "Around here, we've all seen this before, negative ads, distortions, half-truths, nasty politics, unfortunately that's the direction my candidate has chosen."

So what exactly is Rogero talking about? She said, "My votes on commission were distorted and my record has been distorted."

Padgett admits to sending mailers that have been critical of Rogero's record on county commission.

"Her record is five tax increases, voting for a slush fund for Knoxville commissioners. Anytime a politician hands out money to groups, it's a wrong message to send as a government," Padgett said.

It's true that Rogero did vote to raise taxes while on commission in the 1990s. As for the so-called slush fund, it's a discretionary fund commissioners have used to help groups in their districts. That fund was recently cut from the budget. 

How about Mark Padgett's latest TV ad? It says like "Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam, Knoxville's next mayor should a proven record of creating private sector jobs and strengthening the local, that man is Mark Padgett." 

Padgett's company, eGovernment solutions, has created jobs, so that is true. But he says the company only has 10 employees.

"They're not all full-time employees. Ten people to help e-gov, five are full-time employees. five are contractors. I pay technical advisors and contractors," said Padgett.

The polls open at voting locations in Knoxville from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.