THP politics becoming partisan battle

WSMV.com, Reported by Dagny Stuart
February 9, 2006

On Capital Hill Wednesday, the issue of politics in the Tennessee Highway Patrol erupted into a raging battle between Democrats and Republicans. Now some senators are threatening to force troopers that came from the Sundquist administration to testify under oath.

For months, the Bredesen administration has been dealing with allegations that some Highway Patrol workers got promotions after donating to the Democratic Governor's campaign.

Former trooper Bryan Farmer claims he was fired because he did not support Bredesen. On Monday, Farmer told his story to the Senate Transportation and Safety committee. Democrats on that committee fired back on Wednesday saying Republican governors have done the same thing.

"I'm asking that the 8 years of the Sundquist administration also be opened up to look at what's going on. This did not start 3 or 4 years ago," said Sen. Tommy Kilby (D) Wartburg.

Democrat Rosalind Kurita claims former THP Colonel Jerry Scott gave promotions to troopers who supported Republican Governor Don Sundquist.

"He actually held a fundraiser for Sundquist at his home in 1997 and raised over $68,000," said Kurita.

Kurita asked that Scott be subpoenaed to testify about politics and promotions in the Highway Patrol.

Republican Senator Mark Norris labeled the complaints political posturing by the Governor's friends and invited Bredesen to tell anything he knows about the Highway Patrol.

"Certainly if Governor Bredesen has secret information or knowledge of some inappropriate behavior in his current administration or previous administrations we need his help. He talked about personal responsibility, he needs to assume responsibility for this too," said Norris.

Three former Highway Patrol workers and one current worker have filed suit against the state, claiming they were fired or harassed because they supported Republicans.

Senator Mark Norris says Tennessee taxpayers will foot the bill if the state loses those lawsuits and that's why the committee needs to find out about political favoritism in the Highway Patrol.

Channel 4 was unable to contact former Colonel Scott at his home on Wednesday.