Bredesen to workers: Favoritism not his way

Governor e-mails state employees after THP stories by 'Tennessean'

By SHEILA BURKE, Staff Writer Tennessean.com
November 19, 2005

Gov. Phil Bredesen defended his administration against charges of favoritism in promotions yesterday, e-mailing employees in the state's 50,000-plus work force to say that's not how he wants to run the state.

"I am writing today to emphasize to all state employees that this is not how I do business, nor is it how I believe state government should do business," Bredesen wrote.

The governor was responding to a story in The Tennessean on Sunday that exposed a correlation between campaign contributions and promotions at the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Two-thirds of troopers promoted under Bredesen gave him campaign money or had family or political patrons who did. Of those, more than half were promoted over troopers with better scores on impartial exams.

Bredesen's e-mail did not deny the findings of the story, nor did it defend the THP or its parent agency, the Department of Safety. The e-mail says the governor himself was not involved in ordering any promotions based on a campaign contribution. His spokeswoman declined to comment further.

"Over the next few weeks, I will be reviewing this matter further and will make appropriate reforms, if necessary," the governor said. "I am very proud of our state employees and want you to be confident that your dedication and hard work will be the determining factor in how you move ahead in your career."

Since Sunday's story, the controversy has moved closer to the governor's office. The newspaper yesterday published a story about a 2004 memo from Col. Lynn Pitts, commander of the highway patrol, seeking approval from Deputy Gov. Dave Cooley for routine, low-level promotions at THP. Pitts told the newspaper that Cooley was the go-to official for department promotions.

The e-mail also comes after 12 Republican lawmakers on Thursday sent a letter to Bredesen asking him to return the contributions from troopers.

The lawmakers told Bredesen that returning the campaign contributions would be a first step toward "executive branch ethics reform."

"I'm glad the governor sent out the e-mail, but the bottom line is actions speak louder than words," said Rep. Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, who signed the letter. "The actions are that the people who give political contributions to the governor get promotions and the people who score high on examinations don't get promotions."

Harwell said she thought returning the money was the ethical thing to do.

Another lawmaker who called for the governor to return the money — $30,000, according to the newspaper account — said he would now have to give Bredesen the benefit of the doubt.

"It looks bad," said Rep. Glen Casada, R-Franklin, of the promotions within the THP. "It looks like a shakedown of our state troopers. If you want a promotion, give to our campaign."

On Wednesday, Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, chairman of the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee, wrote to Safety Commissioner Fred Phillips requesting extensive documentation for a legislative review of THP promotions.

Residents across the state have e-mailed the governor this week, some of them longtime supporters shaken by the goings-on at the THP.

"This is something that you can control, and I urge you to take immediate action on this matter," wrote Joe Reynolds of Crossville, who sent a copy to The Tennessean. "I ask you to ask yourself if you want history to show you as a man who stood for honesty and integrity in government or just another political hack who got to be governor."