Going negative in politics happens at every level, but in Austin's race for City Council Place 3, the bitter back-and-forth may just keep voters at home.

Turnout in early voting in this year's municipal elections is at 3.5 percent of registered Travis County voters, which is less than turnout for the same period in 2005.

"It is just so nasty right now," said Brian Smith, a St. Edwards University political science professor.

Smith say the nastiness in Place 3, in which incumbent Jennifer Kim's robocalls against challenger Randi Shade have made recent headlines, is surprisingly negative.

"If you're winning big, there's no need to go negative, there's no need to slander anybody else, but if you're in trouble, sometimes that's your only option," Smith said.

Shade's campaign has sent out one negative direct mail piece against Kim, while Kim has sent three.

Kim has also hit Shade with an unsourced robocall in which it claims Shade promised law enforcement it would beef up staff in exchange for an endorsement.

"We did not ask for any promises nor were we offered any," said Stephen Truesdell, who heads the Austin Firefighters Association.

But Kim's campaign manager says Shade's agreement to "call for" increased resources constitutes a "promise."

A January Austin American-Statesman editorial also used the word "promise" in referring to Shade's agreements with law enforcement.

Both Shade and law enforcement say it's an innacurate description, and labeled Kim's claim an "outright lie."

"We rightfully quoted a legitimate news source, and to call us liars for doing that is outrageous," said Kim campaign manager Elliott McFadden.

The effect of these seemingly unending exchanges on the voters?

"Negative advertising in this case might just say to people, you know what, it's so ugly and nasty, I'm going to sit this one out," said Smith.

Democracy may be the biggest loser in a race in which the back-and-forth doesn't seem to wind down.