Lawyer for GOP candidate draws trouble from Democrats

Richard B. Fields, an executive committee member for the Shelby County Democratic Party, is representing Republican Terry Roland as a private attorney challenging Ophelia Ford’s 13-vote victory in a special election Sept. 15.

Election results certified by the Shelby County Election Commission, give Ford, a Democrat, the victory for the Senate seat held by her brother, John Ford, for 31 years.

John Ford resigned in May following his indictment on federal extortion and bribery charges.

Four Memphis Democrats have filed a request asking the party to expel Fields from the executive committee for giving political aid to Republicans. The 67-member committee is expected to consider the request Oct. 6.

Del R. Gill, a co-author of the proposal, described Fields as “a good guy.”

“But this time it would appear as though he’s done something that in my opinion is injurious to the party,” Gill said Tuesday.

Roland’s suit contends ineligible voters were allowed to cast ballots in the Senate election.

“It’s not Republican or Democratic, it’s for political honesty,” Fields said. “I’m loyal to the Democratic party to hold honest elections.”