Terry Roland

Current office and 2026 campaign

Terry Roland is a Republican member of the Tennessee State Executive Committee representing District 29 ¹. In the 2026 election cycle, he is a candidate for office within the state's political structure, continuing his involvement in Tennessee politics following his tenure as a Shelby County Commissioner.

Roland previously served on the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, having been first elected to Position 3 in District 4 in 2010 and winning re-election to the newly created District 1 seat in August 2014 ¹. He assumed office in 2016 but was ineligible to run for re-election to that position ¹. His time on the commission was marked by notable controversies, including a defamation lawsuit filed by activist Pamela Moses over comments made during a June 2017 meeting; while the trial court initially found him liable, the Tennessee Court of Appeals reversed the decision in March 2021 ²⁴. Roland also drew attention for alleging misconduct involving Millington Mayor Richard Hodges and making vote-trading accusations against Memphis City Schools board member Stephanie Gatewood, both of which were investigated but did not result in formal charges or findings against him ⁶⁸.

Roland previously ran for Shelby County Mayor in 2018, losing in the Republican primary on May 1, 2018 ¹. Despite that loss, he remained active in local politics and business, operating Roland’s Tire Service in Millington ⁹. As of May 2026, Roland is campaigning for his current or a new political role as a member of the Republican Party, with the outcome of the upcoming election yet to be determined.

Background and education

Terry Roland is a resident of Millington, Tennessee ⁹. He operates Roland’s Tire Service, which was opened by his father more than 50 years ago and serves as a local gathering place ⁹. Specific details regarding his birth year, upbringing, religious affiliation, or formal educational background are not provided in the available sources.

Career

Terry Roland is associated with a long-standing family business in Millington, Tennessee. His father opened Roland’s Tire Service more than 50 years prior to 2016, and the shop served as both a repair facility and a community gathering place where Roland was frequently present ⁹.

In his professional life, Roland has worked as a broadcaster or media personality, noting that he aired interviews with himself and valued direct communication styles over political rhetoric ⁵. He is also known for wearing brightly colored shirts personalized with his name and the Shelby County seal ³.

Office history

Terry Roland was first elected to the Shelby County Board of Commissioners in 2010, representing Position 3 in District 4 ¹. He won re-election on August 7, 2014, serving as the representative for the newly created District 1 ¹. During his tenure, he assumed office in 2016 and served until he became ineligible to run for re-election ¹. Roland was a prominent figure on the commission, often described as being at the center of volatile dialogue and controversy during legislative sessions ³. He self-describes as having blown the whistle on misconduct involving Millington Mayor Richard Hodges, stating that he contacted police and the sheriff's office about a year prior to TBI raids on City Hall ⁶.

In May 2018, Roland ran for Shelby County Mayor in the Republican primary but lost the race ¹. His time in office was also marked by legal challenges; a lawsuit filed by activist Pamela Moses alleged that Roland made defamatory statements about her during a June 2017 commission meeting, including labeling her and Black Lives Matter as terrorists ⁴. The Tennessee Court of Appeals later reversed the trial court’s decision finding him liable for those statements in March 2021 ². In January 2023, Roland filed a formal complaint alleging vote-trading with Memphis City Schools board member Stephanie Gatewood, though the Shelby County Attorney found no basis to investigate the charges and referred them to the District Attorney’s office ⁸.

Legislative record and accomplishments

During his tenure on the Shelby County Board of Commissioners, Terry Roland was known for a confrontational style that frequently placed him at the center of volatile debates ³. He served as the District 1 representative after being first elected to Position 3 in District 4 in 2010 and winning re-election in the newly created District 1 on August 7, 2014 ¹. Roland was ineligible to run for re-election to the county commission seat ¹.

Roland’s legislative record includes public allegations of misconduct by local officials. He claimed to be the whistleblower who alerted police and the sheriff's office to potential criminal misconduct involving Millington Mayor Richard Hodges, which later led to TBI raids on City Hall ⁶. Roland also stated that he blew the whistle on this issue after contacting authorities about a year prior to the public revelation ⁶. Additionally, Roland filed formal charges alleging vote-trading with Memphis City Schools board member Stephanie Gatewood, claiming she was part of conversations where commissioners offered to support her for interim state House membership in exchange for surrendering the MCS charter ⁸. The Shelby County Attorney found no basis for investigating these specific allegations, and they were referred to the District Attorney’s office ⁸.

Roland’s tenure was marked by significant legal controversy regarding his public comments. In 2017, he faced a $1 million lawsuit from Black Lives Matter activist Pamela Moses over remarks made during a commission meeting where he reportedly called her and BLM "terrorists" and suggested Homeland Security should watch her ⁴. Roland stood by these statements when asked for an apology ⁴. The Tennessee Court of Appeals ultimately reversed the trial court’s decision that had found him liable for defamation, though Moses was awarded $500 for court costs and fees ²⁷.

Roland has self-described his approach as telling it "like it is," avoiding political speak in favor of direct soundbites ⁵. He has been characterized by critics as opposing government intervention in social issues, particularly within his hometown of Millington and North Shelby County ¹⁰. Roland also expressed opposition to scare tactics used by conservative groups warning that Millington could become a "sanctuary city" if residents did not donate money ⁵.

Documented disputes and controversies

Roland faced significant public friction during his tenure on the Shelby County Commission, where he was frequently at the center of volatile dialogue and disputes with colleagues ⁴. A notable conflict arose in June 2017 when Roland made comments about Black Lives Matter activist Pamela Moses during a commission meeting, reportedly stating that Homeland Security needed to watch her and labeling her group as terrorists ⁴. The lawsuit filed by Moses sought $1 million in damages, alleging that Roland stood by these statements when asked for an apology ⁴.

The legal dispute between Roland and Moses proceeded through the courts, with Roland being found liable for defamatory statements made about a private individual during the legislative meeting ². However, the Tennessee Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s decision in Pamela Moses v. Terry Roland, et al. ². Despite the reversal, reports indicated that Moses had won the defamation lawsuit, though the award for court costs and fees was significantly less than the amount sought in the initial complaint ⁷.

Roland also engaged in public disputes regarding political ethics and vote-trading allegations involving Memphis City Schools board member Stephanie Gatewood ⁸. In a sworn statement dated January 5, Roland charged that Gatewood had been involved in conversations with unnamed county commissioners who allegedly offered to vote for her as an interim state House member if she agreed to vote to surrender the MCS charter ⁸. Shelby County Attorney Kelly Rayne responded by finding no basis for investigating these charges, effectively punting the matter to the District Attorney’s office ⁸.

Another controversy involved Roland’s claims of whistleblowing on misconduct in Millington, specifically regarding Mayor Richard Hodges and alleged illegal gambling ⁶. Roland stated that he had contacted police and the sheriff's office about a year prior to the TBI raids on Millington City Hall ⁶. This period was also marked by Roland’s opposition to scare tactics from conservative groups warning that Millington could become a sanctuary city, a stance he defended in interviews as telling it like it is without political speak ⁵.

Roland’s tenure was characterized by his reputation for inappropriate comments and explosive dialogue, with observers noting that he often led the fray on the commission ⁴. Critics argued that his approach ignored social issues in areas like Millington and North Shelby County, which they described as problem-plagued and in need of emergency attention ¹⁰. Despite these controversies and a subsequent loss in the Republican primary for Shelby County Mayor in 2018, Roland maintained his political presence through his business and continued public commentary ¹.

Business interests and wealth source

Terry Roland’s business interests are rooted in the automotive service industry, specifically through his family’s ownership of Roland’s Tire Service in Millington ⁹. The establishment was opened by Roland’s father more than 50 years ago and continues to operate as a local gathering place where Roland has been known to spend time ⁹.

Specific details regarding Roland’s personal wealth source, individual ownership stakes beyond the family business, or significant financial disclosures are not provided in the available records. While Roland has been involved in high-profile legal disputes, including a defamation case with activist Pamela Moses that resulted in a $500 award for court costs and fees ⁷, these figures reflect litigation outcomes rather than sources of personal wealth or income ².

Sources