Posted on 08/06/2005 7:53:20 PM PDT by markomalley
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Ophelia Ford is proving that the family that dominated Democratic politics in Memphis for two decades is not down for the count, though its power has waned.
Ford, whose nephew is U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., beat eight opponents in a primary election Thursday in her bid to reclaim the state Senate seat held for 31 years by her brother, John Ford.
John Ford resigned in May after he was indicted on federal bribery and extortion charges.
Ophelia Ford's victory shows the Ford name can still draw votes, but not in the way it did when the black political dynasty established by John Ford and his brother, former U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Sr., ran effective campaigns and got voters to the polls.
"The two real players in the organization were Harold Sr. and John," said Rhodes College political science professor Marcus Pohlmann. "Whatever organization remains is going to have a hard time turning out voters."
Fewer than 5 percent of voters turned out for the special election, and Ophelia Ford won with just 20 more votes than her closest competitor. Republicans have little chance in the predominantly black district, and Ford is expected to win the general election Sept. 15.
The Fords of Memphis have won elections to Congress, both houses of the Tennessee Legislature and numerous city and county offices.
In their heyday, their support was often sought by candidates for governor and other statewide offices.
Their clout began to weaken in the early 1990s when Willie Herenton, the city's first elected black mayor, was building his own organization. Herenton was first elected in 1991 and is now in his fourth term.
In 1999, he handed the Fords a resounding defeat when Joe Ford, with brother Harold Sr. handling the campaign, ran against him for mayor.
Harold Ford Sr., Tennessee's first black member of Congress, went to the U.S. House in 1974 and retired 22 years later.
Harold Ford Jr. replaced his father as congressman from the 9th District and is now running for the U.S. Senate. Though Ford Jr. draws praise, as his father did, for constituent service and has easily won re-election, he focuses more on national matters than local politics.
"The thing about political organizations these days is there's just not much patronage any more that can hold them together," Pohlmann said. "It's held together by the force of personalities.
"I think what was passing for a family organization was driven more by the strength of Harold Sr. and the strength of John."
Something to keep in mind if he ever seeks higher office...
"Ophelia Ford"
I know she's a stinking, corrupt Dem, but I just love her name.
The other night I was picking up a Memphis Station on my AM radio and I thought I heard the man say 4 members of this Ford family have been indicted for corruption. Is that true?
Oh, yes, we Tennesseans are well familiar with the Fords. They have lied, cheated, extorted, stolen, taken bribes, and bribed their way into our history books. They are also perfect representatives of the people of Memphis.
BTW, Ophelia Ford does not live in the district for which she just ran, as required by the Tennessee Constitution, but neither did her crooked brother, who admitted in court that he didn't. The state senate doesn't see any problem with ignoring the state constitution because so many of them have dirty laundry mixed up with Ford's. Ford has openly told them that he will take them down with him if they dare to testify against him.
Nice bunch. Harold Ford Jr. is the son of a gangster pretending to be respectable.
Just one indictment, but they are ALL crooked. One of the Ford brothers running a federal gimme program illegally "loaned" $70,000 out of the kitty to another brother. But like I said, they are perfect representatives of their Memphis districts; crooks, pimps, drug addicts and pushers, thieves, prostitutes, and murderers. Well over half of all the people in Tennessee stae prisons are from Memphis.
JUNIOR as he is known in Memphis, has ambitions of the White House, he's been groomed for it. His voting record is about 6 pts to the right of nancy pelosi's and teddy kennedy's. NRA rates him an F, he never met a tax hike he didn't vote YES on. Both Eagle Forum and Conservative Union give him LOW teen life time ratings. He's never stood for election on his own, he was handed his district by his corrupt daddy who is still pulling JUNIOR's strings.
JR's daddy beat the House banking rap, and his uncle EX state senator john ford is under indictment for taking money from a lobbyist for his votes.
"Oh, yes, we Tennesseans are well familiar with the Fords. They have lied, cheated, extorted, stolen, taken bribes, and bribed their way into our history books. They are also perfect representatives of the people of Memphis."
Remember when State Rep. Ford shot at the truck driver?
Every so often, Imus has "Junior" on. He's a slick little dude all right. I wouldn't trust him out of sight and maybe not even in sight. Imus wants to play king maker here, I'm pretty sure. He doesn't care a whit about young Harold but, I'm sure, would be more than happy to take the credit should the little turd win a Senate seat.
Well, that's all good confirmation for me. Thanks. Now hopefully we'll remember this when it comes time for "Junior" to move up in the world.
"Oh, yes, we Tennesseans are well familiar with the Fords. They have lied, cheated, extorted, stolen, taken bribes, and bribed their way into our history books. They are also perfect representatives of the people of Memphis."
It seems to me that TN has been trending Pubbie (except for, of course, this and perhaps other districts). Hal Jr is very well spoken and comes across ususally as a rather resonable person on TV. Do you think in a state-wide Senate campaign he has a good chance? Can the Dims do their dirty tricks wrt to elections somewhat easily across TN and get away w it? Who do you think the Pubbies will put up against Jr?
Don't let the Ford "popularity" in Memphis fool you into believing that it goes past the city limits. They would vote for Satan if he put a "D" next to his name. (See my tagline). I don't think he has a chance against a good Republican candidate who isn't above making sure that the names Harold Jr. and John are linked together.
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