New Treasurer of Tenn. Democrats Gave to GOP

Campaign finance records show the newly named treasurer of the Tennessee Democratic Party has made heavy campaign contributions to Republicans, including to Gov. Phil Bredesen's opponents in the 2002 and 2006 elections.

Party Chairman Chip Forrester on Saturday denied that treasurer Bill Freeman's contributions will exacerbate divisions between himself and the prominent elected Democrats who supported his opponent in last month's vote for party chairman.

Freeman, a Nashville real estate investor, was named Forrester's successor as treasurer on Friday. Records show Freeman has made substantial contributions to both Democratic and Republican candidates and causes in the past.

"It is not unusual for business people to participate in making contributions on sort of both sides of the aisle in politics," said Forrester, who also noted that Freeman raised more than $200,000 for Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

"All I can say is that Bill has had a very, very strong record of raising money for Democratic candidates," he said.

Records show Freeman gave nearly $24,000 to the Democratic National Committee, but in 2004 he also gave $10,000 to the Republican National Committee.

In the 2006 U.S. Senate race, Freeman gave $4,100 to Republican Bob Corker and $500 to Democrat Harold Ford. Corker won that race by fewer than 3 percentage points.

Freeman also gave $5,000 each to Republican gubernatorial nominees Van Hilleary and Jim Bryson in 2002 and 2006. Also in 2006, Freeman gave $1,000 to the political action committee of then-U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.

Bredesen and Democratic U.S. Reps. Jim Cooper, Lincoln Davis, Bart Gordon and John Tanner all supported Forrester's opponent Charles Robert Bone for party chairman.

Forrester's election by the party's executive committee has raised questions about whether the party will be able to raise the money needed to reverse disastrous losses suffered in November's elections, when Republicans gained majorities in both chambers of the state Legislature for the first time in 140 years.

Forrester has made winning back a majority in the state House his top goal, and expressed confidence that Democrats will be unified.

"These things always take time to heal, but as everybody begins to focus on the House races in 2010, I think everybody will circle the wagons and be on board," he said. "And whatever past feelings people may have had, those will be put aside."

But Forrester has already been rebuffed as he sought to gather contributions for the Governor's Roundtable event traditionally hosted by Bredesen to raise money for the party.

"Apparently he was making fundraising calls to raise money under the governor's name," said Bredesen aide Will Pinkston. "And I've spoken with him about that, and advised him that that's not appropriate without asking him first."

Pinkston said it is unclear whether Forrester will be able to unify Democrats behind him.

"Chip showed from the executive committee vote that he has the ability to generate excitement in the party ranks, and he definitely can appeal to certain people," he said. "Whether that translates to mass appeal for the party, or whether everyone locks arms, remains to be seen."

In another intraparty twist, Freeman was the longtime campaign treasurer for House Democratic Leader Gary Odom of Nashville, with whom Bredesen has tangled in the past.

Bredesen last year supported Odom's unsuccessful challenger to lead House Democrats, citing unspecified "trust issues" with Odom, and has decided not to let Odom carry the administration's legislative package this year.

Odom and Freeman have opposed the governor's effort to end a corporate tax break for family owned rental properties, known by its acronym FONCEs, that Bredesen calls "totally illegitimate."

Freeman told The Tennessean newspaper last year that his family qualifies for the tax break, and questioned the governor's motivations for trying to end the exemption.

Odom said he had been unaware both that Freeman was under consideration to become party treasurer or that that he had made Republican contributions.

"That's something he did at the time, I don't know why," Odom said. "But that doesn't trouble me. He wouldn't accept this position unless he knew that he could be successful in Democratic efforts in the state."

Freeman did not immediately return a message seeking comment.