Roland Draws Ire of County Commission

Memphis, Tn - It was like the biblical proverb taking on reality, as the youngest Shelby County Commissioner, Justin Ford, smugly gave a succinct description of what many in the room felt would rank as the most humiliating and embarrassing day in the history of the governing body.

"Today it's time to pay the piper. You reap what you sow. You throw rocks at a glass house, you might break something," said Ford.

On the very day Commissioners themselves chose to take up again the thorny and explosive issue of a new county-wide redistricting plan, a government committee meeting turned instead into an open opportunity for frustrated members to unleash a series of accusations, rancor and personal attacks on each other unprecedented in a public forum.

At the center of the controversy was the alleged abrasive words and behavior of Millington Commissioner, Terry Roland, coming the day after Roland had allegedly verbally threatened fellow Commissioner Chris Thomas while both were debating conflicting redistricting plans before a Collierville audience.

The incident, which police were called to, was captured on videophone by Jackson Baker of the Memphis Flyer.

"It's a public meeting and someone wanted to show up to hear what was being said and be available to answer other questions afterwards. I'm not afraid of what anybody says," said Thomas.

Roland stands defiant as well, "They been showing up and heckling me, calling me names, calling me a liar and then last night in Collierville there was even a reference to my dead father. Now that's why I got upset."

But, Roland's troubles with his fellow Republicans reached a crescendo on Wednesday when a visibly upset interim Commissioner Brent Taylor, became angered by published newspaper reports that Roland and Commissioner Mike Ritz had labeled Taylor's compromise redistricting plan as implementing "bribery" to get passage.

A somber Taylor called for fellow commissioners to publicly censure of both men, but unleashed nearly all of his pent-up fury on Roland in a no-holds barred tirade of contempt.

"Considering how he has chosen to routinely embarrass this Commission with untruths, half truths and innuendos. I'm left no choice but to expose the way he conducts the county's business through coercion, intimidation and strong armed tactics expected more of a school yard bully than an elected official."