(On Hold) android listview item of CHOICE_MODE_MULTIPLE custom cursorapater not highlighting

Question

I have a multi select item listview based on a custom row layout inside a fragment. I would like each checked row to be highlighted.

Problem is when i click a row the checked rows do not stay highlighted but the font color of the text changes. I do not get this issue when using android.R.layout.simple_list_item_1 . Thanks in advance

onCreateView Code

 ...
 listView.setChoiceMode(ListView.CHOICE_MODE_MULTIPLE);
 getLoaderManager().initLoader(LOADER, null, this); 
        adapter = new ContactFragmentAdapter(
                getActivity().getApplicationContext(),null,0);
        listView.setAdapter(adapter);

Custom row layout

    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent" android:layout_height="match_parent">

    <TextView
        android:id="@+id/simple_text"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="match_parent"
        android:text="test"
        />

</LinearLayout>

ListView Code

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"

    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    >
 <ListView
        android:id="@+id/contact_list"
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:divider="@null"

        />

</LinearLayout>