Posted on 04/24/2006 1:02:02 PM PDT by SmithL
MEMPHIS — The Republican challenger in a disputed election announced Monday he won’t seek an interim appointment to the seat Ophelia Ford lost last week when the state Senate nullified the vote.
The Republican-controlled Shelby County Commission gets to name an interim senator to the District 29 seat after senators concluded the election was "incurably uncertain" because of ballots cast by felons, people who didn’t live in the district and in the names of dead voters.
Earlier this year, the county commission chairman said he was inclined to nominate Republican Terry Roland, who lost the September election to Ford by 13 votes.
Roland said he wouldn’t take the appointment if named by the commission and isn’t supporting any candidate for it.
"I’m going to step back and let the county commission do its job," Roland said.
Roland is running for the seat in the Aug. 3 Republican primary and would have faced a campaign fundraising ban until May 15 if named an interim lawmaker.
Ford has said she intends to ask a federal judge to intervene and restore her to the state Senate.
Asked if Ford should abandon the court fight, Roland said, "I have to live my decision and they have to live with their decision."
Not a bad move on his part in one respect. With this he is basically saying, "I won't take a seat this tainted." If he took the seat, then he becomes a bigger target and hands out ammunition for his defeat in November. This way perhaps he has a shot in November. It is a big risk too.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.