Freeman Out As TNDP Treasurer
Posted on March 27, 2009 at 3:52 pmFrom a presser:
NASHVILLE, March 27 -Tennessee Democratic Party Treasurer William H. “Bill” Freeman is stepping down effective immediately, Freeman and Chairman Chip Forrester announced today.
The decision comes as a result of several factors, Freeman said, including opposition to his appointment from some of the Democratic establishment.
“As I’ve made fund-raising calls in the last month, several long-time donors have expressed their concern to me that Governor Bredesen was not as supportive of me as I had hoped,” Freeman said. “By resigning now, I hope I can take away some of the criticism the Party has faced recently and give Chip Forrester a better shot at rebuilding a relationship with the Governor and taking the Party in the direction that it needs to go.”
Since his February 19th appointment, Freeman has been criticized for his past contributions to a few Republican candidates. Other commentators and Democratic activists have cited Freeman’s support of FONCE (Family Owned Non-Commercial Entity) as a source of contention with the Governor, who is pushing legislation to close a tax loophole benefiting FONCEs.
Forrester, while reluctantly accepting his resignation, said he respected Freeman’s decision.
“I think this has been a tough environment for Bill and a tough decision for him to make,” said Forrester. “I appreciate him thinking about what is best for the Tennessee Democratic Party, and I sincerely hope to build a productive relationship with Governor Bredesen going forward.”
Freeman is chairman of Freeman Webb, Inc., a real estate investment management and brokerage firm he founded with James A. Webb, III in 1979.
“Bill has done an outstanding job during his tenure with us,” said Forrester. “Serving as a treasurer and raising money is a demanding role at any time, much less during a recession. Regardless, Bill proved himself to be a successful fundraiser. With his help, the TNDP has raised over $60,000 in March alone.”
“My goal here at the TNDP remains the same: to build a strong organization that can help Democrats compete and win in 2010,” Forrester continued. “The problems facing Tennessee are too great for me to lose focus that goal.”
A replacement for Freeman has not yet been named. Forrester said he is beginning the search for a new treasurer immediately.
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Comments
26 Responses to “Freeman Out As TNDP Treasurer”
now Gov. is out of excuses.
Um..does the Governor really care about making excuses?
Excuses for what? Forrester is the one making excuses. And the Governor was only one of the many insulted Democrats in this state. Freeman was the worst symptom of Forrester’s failures, deceptions and shortcomings, but not the only one.
As far as I am concerned, this is just one down and one to go. Forrester’s inept, incompetent, ineffective and incapable performance runs across a broad spectrum — from fundraising failure (that was never a funtion of a treasurer; Sasser, Tuke, Button, Farmer, all the way back, the chair is the chief fundraiser), to taking on Robin Smith and the Republicans, to maintaining a professional website, to reconciling with Bart Gordon and our other Congressmen, to candidate recruiting. Forrester has been an unparalleled disaster.
If this is a tactic to shift the blame for the failure of the TNDP squarely off the scrawny shoulders of Chip Forrester (where it righty belongs) to the Governor or the Congressmen or the major donors, it just won’t work.
I am still waiting for a few answers to the legitimate, serious questions I have been asking all day today.
“Governor Bredesen was not as supportive of me as I had hoped,” Freeman said.
Ya think, Bill? Ya think maxing out to both of his Republican nominee opponents might have made him not supportive of you? Ya think?
What kind of a moron would expect anyone to be supportive under such a circumstance? And what kind of moron would have appointed him?
Who’s the replacement?
Van Hilleary.
Never mind. I see they haven’t decided on one.
Will Cheek for treasurer.
Freeman did the right thing by stepping down; his donor history was a huge distraction and irritation. I grew weary from reading about this for the last 6 weeks or so. The Party can move on and be unified.
I am impressed with Chip Forrester. The TNDP will be launching a new website soon and reaching out to the netroots and calling out the lies of the GOP. I can hardly wait for this new site. Check is on its way to Chip. Let’s fight.
Freeman did the right thing by stepping down; his donor history was a huge distraction and irritation. I grew weary from reading about this for the last 6 weeks or so. The Party can move on and be unified.
I am impressed with Chip Forrester. The TNDP will be launching a new website soon and reaching out to the netroots and calling out the lies of the GOP. I can hardly wait for this new site. Check is on its way to Chip or TNDP. Let’s fight.
How about we let Gov. Conte pick someone?
Say my name, Bill Freeman! Say my name!
Eugene is an idiot. Does he really not understand how transparent this hamfisted attempt at a power play is?
Will Pinkston froze Eugene’s contributions because he hired Freeman.
Freeman resigns.
Eugene issues a preser mentioning Bredesen 500 times. He holds a conference call with bloggers in which he talks about his hopes for building a relationship with Bredesen now that Freeman is gone.
Idiot bloggers like benintn, Left Wing Cracker, and GoldnI rub their little hands together and pray for Bredesen to get on board.
That’s some real stategery, Eugene. Don’t think it will work.
In keeping with the Chipmunk’s persona and leadership style I’m thinking maybe he should hire Rep. Brenda Gilmore as Treasurer. She could donate all the reparation money she is going to collect from her resolution. If that doesn’t work he can always hire Gov. Bredesen to take over. I hear he has quit a bit of money.
So let me get this straight: First, Chip blames Bredesen for November’s disasterous legislative losses at the hands of Jerry Odom. Now, Chip blames Bredesen for the disasterous financial performance at the TNDP and makes Freeman take the fall, assuming he’ll now be able to shame Bredesen into supporting him. Is there no end to Chip’s immaturity? Chip: Grow up. Accept responsibility for your mistakes. Acknowledge that the senior Democratic leaders in this state don’t like you. Then end this farce, resign and get on with your life.
I understand that the offices of Bart Gordon and Lincoln Davis have been very active in discouraging contributions to the Forrester TNDP, and Jim Cooper has “put the word out” since Forrester’s supporters have been making noises about a primary opponent for him. It hasn’t just been the Governor’s office, and even in the Governor’s office, it hasn’t just been Will Pinkston. Not to mention Harold Ford, the former chairs and a few major donors who have been shooting torpedoes at the S.S. Forrester every chance they get.
And don’t forget Forrester’s recent trip to D.C. He has been curioulsy silent about that trip, and I have heard that he got a little straight talk there as well.
Forrester has just too many enemies to be viable as TNDP chairman.
Chipper really is a coniving little weasel. He obviously thinks he can win this battle with Gordon, Davis, Cooper, Bredesen, and Tanner. Maybe his tai chi lessons taught him to persevere.
Drink some wine tonight, Chipper. Smoke a cigar. Tell yourself that you pulled a fast one.
Then drop trow and bend over tomorrow because something tells me this shit ain’t over.
Ok I think I have it.
reality is Mark Brown.
Harrison and TennRod are both will Pinkston
Micky Mouse, who is heetseeker?
I have no idea but he is a loser in my book!
Okay, Chipinista, obsess about who I am. In the meantime, your political party burns to the ground. Does that make sense?
It’s now beginning to sound like your lord and master, Chipper, has come unhinged. People are talking about removing him for his own mental well being.
You have bigger problems than me.
Micky: First, you can’t spell. (Who are you? CAUCAS CHAREMIN MIC TURNOR?) Second, my name is Harrison. I’ve said it time and time again. Finally, who cares who’s who anyway? Spend all your time fixating on the identity of commenters. But spend zero time answering the issues. Classic Chipinista obsessive-compulsive disorder.
I have asked serious questions over and over again, and Chip Forrester and his supporters refuse to answer them.
Chipinista,
I am your father.
Well, Chipinista, you grant an awful lot of power to this Pickston and Brown. Two guys have brought down your lord and master, huh? You must really suck ass.
Nevermind Chipper’s neverending series of missteps. Nevermind his $7,500 a month salary when he’s not raising any money. Nevermind his weekend junket to DC when he’s not raising any money. Nevermind that he’s plotting a jihad against elected Democrats . . .
You keep worrying about me. I’m obviously your biggest problem.
WOW!, Harrison did I run over your dog or cut you off in traffic. If I did either I’m sorry. You and your friends are very dedicated to your views, and I enjoy the back and forth. We are going to have a Blogger day on the Hill in a few weeks and I hope you all show up, so you can ask your questions directly. ( I hope my spelling was OK )_
Rep. Turner, you are aware of the situation at TNDP. You meet regularly with Chip, usually over breakfast. For the good of the party (and for Chip’s own good), it’s time for action.
Volunteers are upset because he openly talks around the TNDP office about “primarying” Jim Cooper, Bart Gordon, and Lincoln Davis. Volunteers are concerned for Chip’s mental and emotional well-being because he barricades himself in his office and obsesses over blog comments.
The party can recover from Chip’s horrible leadership over the last two months, but many of us are concerned about him as a person. As Heatseeker has said (with a little too much glee for my taste), this is beginning to sound like a landlocked version of “The Caine Mutiny.”
It’s time for Chip to step down, Rep. Turner. I respectfully ask that you make this happen.