The Associated Press Interview - Bryson Declares THP Contributions Off Limits

AP Interview: Bryson Declares THP Contributions Off Limits

By ERIK SCHELZIG
Associated Press Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Bryson has pledged not to accept campaign contributions from employees of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

"We're definitely not going to take them from troopers," Bryson said Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press.

Bryson, 44, is the likely opponent to Democratic incumbent Phil Bredesen this fall. The state senator from Franklin said he wants to make ethics a campaign issue, highlighted by how Bredesen handled recent turmoil at the Highway Patrol and the Department of Safety.

The department's top three officials resigned in December, following media reports about troopers with criminal backgrounds, allegations of ticket-fixing, and a culture of cronyism and political arm-twisting that included preferential treatment for officers who gave money to the governor's campaign or had family members or political patrons who did.

An analysis by security consultant Kroll Inc. found that personnel matters at the Highway Patrol were "rife with political favoritism at the expense of competence."

Bredesen campaign spokesman Will Pinkston called Bryson's criticisms "the first of what will be a long line of negative attacks by a campaign that's feeling very desperate."

Pinkston said the governor "has taken quick and decisive action" regarding the Highway Patrol and argued that many of the problems at the agency predate the Bredesen administration.

Bryson was unconvinced, citing Deputy Gov. Dave Cooley's role in personnel moves at the agency. Bredesen told Cooley in late 2004 to stay out of THP affairs after a lieutenant fixed a speeding ticket for Cooley.

"He can talk about the prior administrations, but the reality is that his deputy governor has run the Tennessee Highway Patrol," Bryson said.

"His deputy governor - who is a political operative and not really an operations person - was the person who was approving promotions apparently based on contributions to the governor's race," he said.

State Republicans have sent an unidentified man dressed in a bear costume to several of the governor's campaign events, demanding he return campaign contributions made by members of the Highway Patrol. Bredesen has said the Department of Safety has offered to return the money to any trooper who wants it back.

"Did they talk about if anybody would be demoted if they asked for their money back?" asked Bryson.

Bryson said the administration has not gone far enough in cleaning up the department. Interim Safety Commissioner Jerry Nicely, who also heads the state Department of Transportation, has seen his initial 60-day appointment drag into its sixth month.

"We've got a commissioner who doesn't know anything about the Department of Safety, and he's only working there part time," Bryson said.

http://www.brysonforgovernor.com/news/show.asp?id=25