Tenn. Gov. Bredesen Names Newman as Insurance Commissioner

Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen has named a Nashville attorney, Leslie Shechter Newman, as commissioner of the Department of Commerce and Insurance.

She succeeds Paula Flowers, who recently resigned.

Newman is a partner with Nashville’s Farmer & Luna law firm. She has worked in private and public practice, including local and state regulatory law, for 26 years. She served with the Metropolitan Nashville Department of Law from 1994 – 2000; during that time, she advised the Office of the Mayor and supervised the Metro Law Department’s staff. Newman is a Johns Hopkins University graduate and earned her law degree from the Washington University School of Law.

“I want to thank Governor Bredesen for this vote of confidence and am thrilled to be working for him again,” Newman said. “I’m committed to maintaining the important balance between consumer protection and an open business environment that will benefit all Tennesseans.”

The Department of Commerce and Insurance includes a wide variety of regulatory and licensing programs governing Insurance, Securities, and more than two dozen occupational categories. It also contains the state Fire Marshal’s Office, the state’s E-911 Board, TennCare Oversight, Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, P.O.S.T. Commission and TLETA. Its mission is to enforce statutory and regulatory standards to assure public safety, a balanced and fair business climate, and the protection of Tennessee consumers.

Source: Tenn. Governor’s Office