Governor to probe THP promotions, campaign contributions

November 16, 2005

Southern Standard

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Gov. Phil Bredesen said he plans to investigate allegations that campaign contributions and outside politics influenced promotions in the Tennessee Highway Patrol despite state civil-service rules designed to shield the agency from such activity.

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

More than half in that group were promoted although they were competing against officers with higher promotion scores, the newspaper reported.

Bredesen made it clear that "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 me."

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

Two Republican state lawmakers who serve on committees that have some oversight of the THP said such behavior cannot be tolerated if the allegations are true.

"If people are getting promoted because they are giving campaign contributions, that is wrong," said House Minority Leader Bill Dunn of Knoxville, who has served on the House Transportation Committee and is a member of a joint legislative committee currently drafting a bill to toughen the state's ethics laws.

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.