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By Yolanda Jones Ophelia Ford has 70 percent of the vote in early returns in her Dist. 29 state Senate race against Terry Roland. Last fall, Ford beat Roland in a special election by a razor-thin margin of just 13 votes. Roland contested the votes, citing voter irregularities. A further investigation revealed evidence of voter fraud when it showed election workers faked votes trying to throw the race to Ford. The plot ended with three poll workers being indicted for the illegal voting that officials said Ford had nothing to do with. However, the Senate voted to remove her from office last spring after they voided the election. In an August primary race, both Ford and Roland won and faced off once again in this general election. Both have since worked the campaign trail. Ford out fund-raising and at several events and Roland visiting churches and banquets throughout the county. Ford and Roland are vying to occupy the four-year term seat that once belonged to Ford’s brother, John Ford who resigned from the Senate in May 2005 after his indictment in the Tennessee Waltz bribery sting. Ford, a principal in the family's funeral home, was at her campaign headquarters on South Third Tuesday night watching the results. Roland, who owns a Milling ton service station, was also at his campaign headquarters in Millington, keeping a close eye on the election. Earlier, both said they were confident in their chances for victory. Copyright 2006, commercialappeal.com - Memphis, TN. All Rights Reserved. |
