Minority Leader Dispute

By Angela Hatton

Nashville, TN – Democratic State House Majority Leader Gary Odom says Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen is trying to hand-pick a new Democratic leader in the General Assembly's lower chamber. Democrats lost their majority in the House in this month's election, and are scheduled to elect their minority leader Sunday. A spokeswoman says the governor has "trust issues" with Odom, and that the administration is considering other House members to carry Bredesen's agenda if Odom is elected. Odom says he is confident Democrats will reject what he calls Bredesen's "effort to elect his own Democratic Leader." Representative Craig Fitzhugh is the only other Democrat running for the minority leader position.