NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee State Employees Association has named former Nashville Councilman John Summers as its new executive director.

Summers was the executive director and lobbyist for the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association from 1980 to 2000, and has since worked as a consultant in government relations, political campaigns, fundraising and communications.

Summers replaces Robert O'Connell, who announced his retirement in January.

Summers comes to the TSEA amid successful efforts by Republican Gov. Bill Haslam to overhaul state civil service rules that make it easier for executive branch employees to be hired and fired, and allow merit raises for high-performing workers and pay decreases for poor ones.

Haslam also withdrew his original proposal to give state employees a 1 percent raise this year because of worse-than-expected state revenues