Gov Names Two New Staffers

Governor Phil Bredesen named Stuart Brunson to the post of deputy governor today. Brunson, who was Bredesen’s campaign manager this year, will take over for Dave Cooley, who has decided to step down.

Cooley has been an often controversial figure but Bredesen says the replacement isn’t a reflection on Cooley.

“It is a clean start. That’s in no way a criticism of Dave Cooley. I think all of you know that I have an extraordinarily high regard for him and frankly a lot of sympathy for the position that anybody in that deputy governor’s job find themselves. They just tend to get all of the really complicated problems and of course if you don’t call every on of them just right or what you might have wanted to and it’s a job where you are going to take some criticism.”

During a break in budget hearings this afternoon, Bredesen said Brunson is more “soft-spoken” than Dave Cooley, but said he won’t be any less effective at getting the governor’s priorities passed through the legislature.

Bredesen also promoted Steve Elkins to legal counsel to the governor today. Elkins was serving as deputy legal counsel. Elkins replaces Bob Cooper, who was appointed to attorney general last month.