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from: The Tennessean

Aide's new job raises no flags for Bredesen

By BONNA JOHNSON • Staff Writer • January 18, 2008

Gov. Phil Bredesen said he sees no ethical conflict with his communications director leaving his staff to work for a public affairs firm that represents AT&T, which is engaged in a fierce legislative battle with cable companies.

Bob Corney, who joined the governor's staff in February 2004, is leaving at the end of the month. He is not permitted to lobby for a year under the state's ethics law.

"Once he told, which was some time ago now, that he was planning on doing this, we began excluding him from any meetings relating to those particular subjects," Bredesen said Thursday.

Corney said he is unsure what his exact day-to-day duties will be working for Vox Global Mandate, an international public affairs firm.

"What I do in public relations and public affairs is more about trying to communicate the goals and accomplishments of the clients," Corney said.

Michael Drescher will be returning to state government to take his place. Drescher, 38, has been senior vice president of government and community relations at the Nashville Visitors & Convention Bureau. Previously, he was public affairs director for the TennCare Bureau and worked in the Governor's Office of Planning and Policy.

Cable, AT&T issue studied

AT&T and other telecommunications firms want to enter territory dominated by Comcast and other cable companies without having to negotiate rates with each local government. House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh has stepped in to mediate in hopes of negotiating an agreement.

Bredesen declined to wade into the fracas last year, saying he wasn't familiar with the issues involved, but may propose "an approach" this time around, he said.

"I'm taking a look at trying to provide some leadership and direction on this," Bredesen said. "I've spent a lot of time studying the issues. The issue for me is not coming down on the side of cable or AT&T. It's just an issue of, I do not think we have adequate broadband coverage in Tennessee."

He's particularly interested in opening up access for residents and businesses in rural parts of the state, especially for economic development purposes.

Contact Bonna Johnson at 726-4892 or bjohnson@tennessean.com.