When Governor-elect Phil Bredesen is inaugurated Saturday Dave Cooley will arguably become the second most powerful man in Tennessee. The senior strategist for the Bredesen campaign, Cooley will assume the role as deputy governor. He became a partner with McNeely Pigott & Fox in 1993, served as Bredesen’s chief of staff when he was mayor of Nashville and has worked on the staff of the Tennessee Public Service Commission and Tennessee Medical Association. Political columnist Saralee Terry Woods sat down with Cooley recently to take the pulse of Bredesen’s go-to man.
SW: How did you get interested in politics and political campaign work?
DC: My older brother ran for council and mayor about 25 years ago and I worked with the 1978 Bob Clement for Governor Campaign and then I kept working in various campaigns.
SW: What was your college major?
DC: I received my undergraduate degree in history from Tennessee Tech with a master of arts degree from the University of West Florida from the Rayburn-Dirksen National Institute of Applied Politics.
SW: Was your master’s degree helpful in developing your political expertise?
DC: Yes, especially in the areas of voter behavior science and the art of polling.
SW: What was the first campaign where you were paid staff?
DC: The 1982 Frank Cochran re-election to the Tennessee Public Service Commission.
SW: Where did you go from there?
DC: I finished my senior year of college, then worked on various campaigns and then went to graduate school and worked on Florida and South Alabama campaigns. It was in the 1985 Don Siegelman for U.S. Senate campaign that I first worked with James Carville.
SW: How did you meet Phil Bredesen?
DC: I watched Bredesen’s 1987 campaign for mayor with interest and actually met him through Byron Trauger while managing the 1988 Marilyn Lloyd re-election campaign to Congress. In 1990 when Bredesen announced he would run for mayor, I became his campaign manager.
SW: Did you and Bredesen immediately connect?
DC: We had an appreciation for the other’s strengths. We are very different people and come at things from a different perspective. Phil Bredesen is the smartest, most capable leader I have ever been exposed to and the issue of loyalty is a major asset in our relationship.
SW: What loss hurt the most and how did you get over it?
DC: The 1994 governor’s race between Phil Bredesen and Don Sundquist— the loss was difficult to handle. It left some demons in my closet that are now gone. I slayed the demons.
SW: What was your best win other than Bredesen’s election as governor?
DC: The NFL referendum (approving the Titans) in 1996.
SW: Describe your favorite job.
DC: The most satisfying professional job has been working with Phil Bredesen.
SW: When does your day start and stop — and is this always the same or only really intense during campaigns?
DC: It is always more intense during the campaign but it typically starts at somewhere between 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. and ends between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.”
SW: How do you really “manage” a candidate?
DC: Campaigns should be more about managing a campaign than a candidate. Some candidates require a lot of management, some little. Phil Bredesen has always been the best, the most disciplined person at the table during a campaign and the best strategist so working with Phil Bredesen has been a breeze.
SW: Do you delegate or micromanage?
DC: It depends on who you ask - ask a dozen people in the office and you get an equal split, six will say I tend to delegate and the other six will say I micromanage. It depends on the issue and situation.
SW: What skills are important to develop or to study to be a successful politico?
DC: Writing is extremely important and communication skills no matter what position you are in.
SW: How much do you use the Internet for research?
DC: A great deal, it is our first line of research in most cases.
SW: What is your advice to those who aspire to your job?
DC: It took villages all across Tennessee to win this election. Phil Bredesen was clearly the key to it all, but it took every ounce of all the people in every county to win.
SW: Have women advanced in political campaigns in Tennessee?
DC: Enormously. The base of advancement for women has been light years compared to what it was in 1988. Women are now the front line as well as the bench strength for candidates and operatives. Women were strong in the Bredesen for Governor Campaign and our campaign had women in every single level. For example, our State Field Director Kim Sasser proved she can perform at a high level and can play on any field she wants.
SW: What do you look for when you hire someone?
DC: Four key things: 1) loyalty and commitment; 2) competency and intelligence; 3) political instincts and judgment; and 4) work ethic.
SW: How do you relax?
DC: I have an incredible wife and four great kids, I work out and am a football junkie, I love college and pro football.
SW: Tell us about your family.
DC: My wonderful wife, Melanie, has been as focused and committed as I was or anyone else to help Bredesen win this election. We have four great children — Brady, 27, Jessica, 17, Ben, 15, and Brooke, 14. This was the first time in my life the entire family including the children were engaged in the campaign and it was great that we won.
