http://matthewlistens.blogspot.com/2006/10/rep-matthew-hill-lies-about-tennessee.html#links
I was reading this post. Something jumped out at me that I had not seen when reading the original article in the Johnson City Press. Phillips states, “The fact is, Bredesen’s administration didn’t hire any of those people. And they surely wouldn’t have been hired as a Washington County deputy sheriff.” Who are “those people?” Is he talking about the one’s who received the advancement? Is he talking about the one’s who gave the advancement? What were the punishments?
Also, why are people not asking another question? The whole mess had to do with political favoritism. Bredesen supporters were moving through the ranks. (If someone believes this doesn’t happen in state affairs they are crazy. It has always gone on. It shouldn’t, and when it does the leaders should be accountable.) Well, Bredesen wanted to clean things up. Right? So, what does he do? He hires an outside firm who will be fair and everything will be kosher there. Right? Wrong!!! He hires Kroll, Inc. with a $200,000.00 no bid contract. Their “senior person” in Nashville is… Michael Shmerling. Who is he??? Oh, he donated $12,500.00 or more to the Bredesen campaign from 2002 to the present.
Now, Phillips, who oversaw the THP during the scandal, wants to come home and run for State House. If he wins, which may be possible, let’s hope he doesn’t get caught up in anymore scandals. He seems to be a good man who may have been at the wrong place at the wrong time. But… isn’t that true with those who were caught up in the Tennessee Waltz Scandal?
~EE
I find it hard to believe that so many people have forgotten that Fred Phillips was the deputy commissioner of the department of safety before he was ever appointed as commissioner. I also find it hard to believe that the deputy commissioner would not know what is going on in his department.