Haslam administration objects to bill naming trail for Bredesen's wife

Friday, February 17, 2012, Vol. 36, No. 7

NASHVILLE (AP) - The administration of Gov. Bill Haslam has flagged a bill that would name a perimeter trail around the Bicentennial Mall in Nashville in honor of a former governor's wife.

Haslam is a Republican and his predecessor Phil Bredesen is a Democrat, but bill sponsor Rep. Jimmy Naifeh said he thinks the issue isn't politics, but money.

It would cost an estimated $6,000 for signs to designate the trail to honor Andrea Conte - Bredesen's wife.

Naifeh - a Covington Democrat - told the Chattanooga Times Free Press he can raise the money if the state can handle the signs (http://bit.ly/AbEL9L).

Naifeh noted his request has precedent. A decade ago, lawmakers named the Martha Sundquist State Forest in Cocke County to honor the wife of Republican Gov. Don Sundquist.