NASHVILLE (AP) — A political consultant hired to work in Secretary of State Tre Hargett's office reserved a website in the event his boss decided to run for governor.
WTVF-TV in Nashville reports (http://bit.ly/15yfDpB) that Hargett paid consultant Dennis Berwyn of North Carolina $6,000 a month as his director of policy. Berwyn managed a public relations campaign and newsletter called Tennessee Business Spotlight that heavily featured Hargett's likeness and name.
While Hargett insisted that Berwyn's work was not political, WTVF found that Berwyn is also the owner of the Internet domain for HargettForGovernor.com.
Hargett acknowledged that the connection "doesn't look good," but said the website registration was meant to protect him.
Following the WTVF interview, Hargett contacted other media to announce that he has no plans to run for governor in 2018.
Hargett drew national attention in October when his office issued new "I Voted" stickers to be handed out at the polls that prominently featured the words "Secretary of State Tre Hargett." They replaced generic stickers usually depicting a U.S. flag on white background.
The secretary of state is appointed to a four-year term by a joint convention of the state House and Senate. Hargett has held that position since 2009 after serving as chairman of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority and spending 10 years in the state House.
The new "I Voted" stickers match the colors of the Tennessee flag — including a blue spot with three white stars — but they also resemble popular campaign bumper stickers from fellow Republicans such as Gov. Bill Haslam.
Hargett said he "wasn't looking through a political lens" when he approved the new design.
"We missed the mark," Hargett said, later adding: "I should not have put my name on it."