Cooper Gives up Senate Seat

State Senator Jerry Cooper has sent a letter signaling he’s retiring from the legislature.

The Morrison Democrat was recently arrested on DUI charges. Last month he was fined 120-thousand dollars for transferring thousands in campaign money to a personal account. His resignation makes him the fourth Democrat to do so in the last few years.

As the state’s ranking Democrat, Governor Phil Bredesen says he doesn’t think his party has a corruption problem.

“I think the Democrats have been in power longer and anytime you have anybody in power longer, you have these kinds of things develop with a few people. If this had been like some other states have been, where republicans are in power a long-time it’s the republicans that have trouble, it’s not a D versus R thing.”

Bredesen says the party’s loss of Cooper’s seat shouldn’t hurt his legislative agenda, which he considers bi-partisan.

Cooper had served as a lawmaker since 1985. The Warren County Commission will appoint his successor.

**Clarification: Warren County is heavily democratic, and the Commission will likely appoint another democrat to fill out the rest of Cooper’s term. Bredesen made his comments regarding his legislative agenda in response to a question on whether losing another senior democrat would impact his ability to shepherd his priorities through the General Assembly.

We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.**