A Republican state legislator has filed a complaint against TVA Director Virginia Lodge, claiming she violated the federal Hatch Act by serving as the campaign treasurer for Democratic Senate candidate Phil Bredesen and for appearing in a commercial on behalf of Bredesen.
But Lodge and TVA lawyers said Wednesday that federal laws do not bar TVA directors as part-time federal employees appointed by the president from engaging in political activities outside of their work at TVA.
Tennessee State Rep. Rick Tillis, R-Lewisburg, filed the complaint against Lodge Monday with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel. Tillis called for an investigation into the appearance of Lodge in a recent Bredesen commercial that featured several former female employees in the Bredesen administration affirming his “zero-tolerance” policy on sexual harassment.
Virginia LodgeWhile Bredesen was Tennessee governor, Lodge served as commissioner of the state’s Department of Human Services.
In 2014, Lodge, who is CEO of Fulfillment Supply Innovation (FSI) in Nashville, was confirmed to a 5-year term on the TVA board as one of nine part-time directors overseeing America’s biggest government-owned utility.