Governor to probe THP allegations

By Associated Press, Commercial Appeal
November 16, 2005

NASHVILLE -- Gov. Phil Bredesen said he plans to investigate allegations that campaign contributions and politics influenced Tennessee Highway Patrol promotions despite state civil-service rules that prohibit such activity.

The Tennessean newspaper has detailed how two-thirds of THP promotions under his administration went to officers who gave to the governor's campaign, or had family members or political patrons who did.

More than half in the group got promoted although they vied against officers with higher promotion scores, the newspaper reported.

Bredesen said, "I have never told anybody in my administration to make sure that somebody was promoted and somebody was hired.

"I didn't do that when I was mayor (of Nashville) and I think the record clearly shows I haven't done it as governor," said Bredesen, who acknowledged the newspaper's findings "bother" him.

Troopers and former troopers told the newspaper that political pressure, campaign donations and a culture of favors for the powerful have dominated the THP for much of its history.

Two Republican state lawmakers on committees with oversight of the THP said such behavior cannot be tolerated.

"If people are getting promoted because they are giving campaign contributions, that is wrong," said House Minority Leader Bill Dunn of Knoxville, who serves on the House Transportation Committee and a joint legislative committee drafting a an ethics reform bill.

Sen. Mark Norris of Collierville, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, said if the governor doesn't take steps to "clear the air" his committee might do so.

"The issues raised are of concern and they need further inquiry," Norris said.

Bredesen said part of his investigation would be to determine whether there's a direct connection between contributions and promotions, or if the appearance of campaign contributors on the promotion lists is more a result of an entrenched culture in an agency that has long had a reputation for being political.

"If I found that somebody had ever said to somebody, 'If you put $5,000 in the pot, $1,000 in the pot, I'll get you a promotion,' I would come down very hard on that," Bredesen said.