Governor Having Medical Procedure

Governor Phil Bredesen’s public schedule has a glaring gap. He isn’t going to House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh’s annual Coon Supper in Covington tonight, a must-attend on the political calendar.

Naifeh inadvertently created a quick flurry of questions for the governor’s office when he told reporters why the governor will miss the event.

“He is having some medical procedure that’s going to prevent him from being able to come. He called me last week about it.”

In an e-mail, press secretary Lydia Lenker said the governor was having “sun-spots,” apparently skin lesions, removed. Lenker suggested that it was a modest enough procedure to escape attention in the news.

The press office was similarly reticent two years ago to confirm what was wrong with the governor when he was hospitalized with complications following an apparent tick bite.

That medical event led to a commission on the transfer of executive powers and the resurgence

of legislation calling for an elected Lt. Governor.

WEB EXTRA

The text of the e-mail from Bredesen Press Secretary Lydia Lenker about the governor’s medical procedure:

The Governor is getting some sunspots on his face removed. As you may recall, he’s had this routine procedure before. No cause for alarm.

The press office was similarly reticent two years ago to confirm what was wrong with the governor when he was hospitalized with complications following an apparent tick bite.