Bolivar Mayoral Candidate Faces Retrial on Felony Charges
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BOLIVAR, Tenn. – A former Bolivar councilwoman is back in court, even after her voter fraud conviction was overturned last year. Now she is facing a retrial. The fight for Brenda Woods is far from over. “This is a ploy from the good ‘ol boy network, working to try to stop people from voting,” Woods said. She is referring to a previous election in Bolivar, where Woods was convicted of three counts of voter fraud. That conviction was overturned, after she filed an appeal in December. Now the judge set Woods’ retrial date for September 30. She claims it is only happening because she filed a complaint with the state against District Attorney General Mike Dunavant. “He was charged with prosecutorial misconduct and he’s going to be held to higher standards,” Woods said. “What he did to me, he’s done to others, but they didn’t know how to fight him. I know how to fight.” Woods and her supporters are calling this dirty politics since the election in Bolivar is underway. “What at this particular time, right during the election? Why didn’t you bring this up awhile back? If you had evidence, why didn’t you bring it up then,?” said supporter Barbara Jean Fitzhugh. Woods is confident she will do well at trial. “I love that they’re doing this. I want to go to trial. This is wonderful. I’m going to beat them again,” Woods said. And she added she also hopes to win the election before that happens. Dunavant could not be reached for comment. Court officials told WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News a candidate can be removed from office if convicted of a felony.
