Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Police Called as County Commissioners Quarrel Over Redistricting in Collierville
Posted by Jackson Baker on Tue, Jan 17, 2012 at 10:35 PM
Commissioner Terry Roland threatens colleague Chris Thomas midway of an attack on colleague Brent Taylor
As the issue of redistricting the Shelby County Commission remains unresolved and bounces back and forth between a divided commission and Chancery Court, nerves of commissioners are fraying and disagreements hit the danger level.
A few days after Commissioner Terry Roland was confronted by several of his Republican colleagues at a meeting of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, a reprise of sorts occurred Tuesday night at a meeting of the Collierville Republican Club at the La Hacienda Restaurant on Highway 72/Poplar Avenue in Collierville.
Roland, the club's featured speaker Tuesday night and a proponent of a two-member district plan, had barely launched into his remarks when he ran into vocal challenges from fellow Republican commissioners Wyatt Bunker, Chris Thomas, and Heidi Shafer, all of whom took exception to Roland's account of how the disagreement came about and what its meaning was.
The word "lie" was hurled repeatedly at Roland by the others before club officials restored a semblance of order, but a running dialogue between Roland and his fellow commissioners continued and became heated.
In the clip above, Roland appears to blame his new interim colleague Brent Taylor (who was also present) for the current impasse between Roland himself and h is allies, on the one hand, and several GOP colleagues who prefer a three-member district plan, on the other. Midway of his allegations against Taylor, however, Roland apparently thought Thomas muttered something disrespectful about his father or perhaps rolled his eyes as Roland began telling a story about taking Taylor with him to visit the grave of the senior Roland, who was recently deceased.
Whatever the pretext, Roland theatened Thomas that he would "knock you out of that chair," but quickly moved on to the case he was building against Taylor.
At some point, however, Commissioner Bunker tried to convince Thomas that he should charge Roland with assault and, on his own, called Collierville police. Four policemen would shortly arrive in two police cars and, upon the conclusion of the meeting (which continued with bitter disagreements hurled back and forth) interrogated Roland about the incident and apparently asked Thomas if he wanted to press charges. Thomas declined to.
The subject of redistricting will be taken up yet one more time during committee hearings Wednesday.
The essential disagreement between Roland and his GOP colleagues is apparently based on their preference for a plan more congenial to Republicans. Roland, who maintains that his plan guarantees four suburban members of the Commission, insists that his plan is equally GOP-friendly.
Comments (17)
Showing 1-17 of 17
Chancellor Golden might as well get his skinning knife out and get to work on that skunk.
Footnote: The skunk reference is not mine but originated with one of the attorneys working on the redistricting lawsuit.
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I wouldn't vote for a man that butchers the English language.
So far as I've been able to determine, Terry Roland is really good at threatening people yet I haven't seen him beat anybody up yet. I'm beginning to think he's like Jimmy Hart, all mouth.
Those who have commented above do not know Terry Roland or you would think differently. I contend that 'butchering the English language' is not as as of egregious as being unethical and dishonest.
Terry is a man of integrity and passion. He speaks up for what he feels is right no matter the consequences.
We need more men of character to lead this city and county!
Would your comment be the same if this situation happened in Memphis?
Men of character don't threaten to beat up someone b/c they don't agree with them. He's an embarrassment, every bit as much of one as Ophelia Ford, etc.
Lee Anne; everyone has character, its just the good ones we want. Roland is obviously not of good character. He's a hot-headed weenie that, to quote the modern lyricist, Jay-Z: "wouldn't bust a grape in a fruit fight."
Why are the other commissioners following Roland around in the first place? Isn't this the second time they followed Roland around? Sounds like they went to the restaurant to have another confrontation with Roland.
Now that we don't have Haley Barbour to kick around any more, English-speaking-wise, thank goodness for Terry Roland. Compared to him, Paula Deen sounds like Margaret Thatcher.
P.S. I'll know there's a God when he inflicts an ass-kicking on Mr. Roland.
My commissioner and your commissioner were sitting in a tree...no wait...
My commissioner and your commissioner were hanging up clothes,
My commissioner punched your commissioner in the nose,
What color was the blood? G-O-P...R-E-D!
You would had to been there to see what our commissioners were saying in their heckling way. This was his meeting and they should not have been their. What till next month same place same time. Let's see who gets heckel and see if they can deal with it. Terry has been someone who is fighting for what he believes to be the best thing. Right or wrong. Question is why did Wyatt Bunker call the police when he wasn't the one he was talking to.
The video was taken by Wyatt as well. Sounds like a set up job to me.
Remember the same 3 were asked to leave the Arlington meeting because of the same tactics. Heidi Shafer,Chris Thomas and Wyatt Bunker.
Correction, GoTigers: the video was taken by me, and Wyatt Bunker had nothing to do with it before, during, or after. He didn't even know about it until somebody told him about it today.
"At some point, however, Commissioner Bunker tried to convince Thomas that he should charge Roland with assault and, on his own, called Collierville police."
What the hell? Why do that? It was over before it began. He is like that little thing in the cartoon that sits on the cat's shoulder whispering in his ear while the cat decides whether or not to eat the bird.
Commissioners Bunker, Shaffer and Thomas were not invited to this Collierville club meeting and wouldn't have otherwise been there except to heckle and provoke. (as someone said, they were asked to leave the Arlington meeting).
The fact that one commissioner has intimated on his Facebook account that someone had to 'step between' he and Commissioner Roland is quite comical!
Terry is predictable...because he cares, he's passionate, and he is not swayed from his convictions by wheeling and dealing. We need more citizens to serve our community as commissioners and such ..who are not merely trying to make a living and profession out of politics.
I do know Terry Rowland and have know him and his family for forty years and he has always been a hot head and while he was running the family business he treated his employees like trash thats why he always had new faces in there every time you turned around. I for one would not vote for him if he was running for dog catcher.
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