GREENSBORO – The Hale County Commission is the target of a lawsuit, that appears to be a last-ditch effort by Lois Fields to hold on to her job as District 2 commissioner.

Probate Judge Leland Avery said he was served a summons as chairman of the commission in a law suit filed by Eugene Lyles in Hale County Circuit Court.

In his suit, prepared by Fields’ attorney April England-Albright, Lyles contends his constitutional rights were infringed upon when the county commission failed to reapportion the county’s voting districts based on the 2000 Census.

“This act of negligence by the Defendant has caused election irregularity and the following injury to Plaintiff and other like Plaintiff [sic] in Voting District 2 of Hale County: (a) District 2 has 10,000 more voters than District One. (b) Voters have not been allowed to vote pursuant to the census data of 2000, which may have caused them to have to vote for a different candidate,” the law suit alleges.

Lyles’ suit also seeks an injunction forestalling the Nov. 2 general election in District 2, meaning that although Elijah Knox faces no general election opponent, his election wouldn’t become official until a court ruling on the law suit.

The law suit also seeks a court ordered new primary election.

“Right now, I’m waiting on our lawyer to look at the case,” Avery said. “I was just served with it [on Tuesday]. Right now, we’re not even sure it’s a legitimate law suit or that it’s filed in the appropriate court.”

Circuit Judge Tommy Jones has been assigned the suit, which was fielded Oct. with Circuit Clerk Gay Nell Tinker.

Albright did not return phone calls regarding this story, and Lois Fields could not be reached for comment.