Posted on 04/19/2006 1:52:54 PM PDT by SmithL
NASHVILLE — A proposal to oust state Sen. Ophelia Ford was on the Senate agenda Wednesday after a federal judge declined to stop lawmakers from voting.
The Senate, led by its GOP majority, was expected to unseat the Memphis Democrat by nullifying her 13-vote victory over Republican Terry Roland in a September special election.
A Senate investigative committee, which has been at work since late last year, recommended Ford be ousted after finding the election results were "incurably uncertain" because of 12 improper ballots. Two were cast in the names of voters and others came from felons and people from outside Senate District 29, the committee said.
Senate Majority Leader Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, is leading the effort and says there is "overwhelming evidence" to nullify the election.
Ford has contended the move is motivated by the Republicans' slim 18-14 majority in the Senate.
"The Republicans want that seat," she said last month. "They want it so bad that they'll do anything."
In January, the Senate voted 17-14 to void Ford's election, but the lawmaker filed a federal lawsuit and U.S. District Judge Bernice Donald intervened before a final vote was held. Donald ruled that the senators must follow consistent, statewide standards for invalidating ballots before overturning an election.
When Ford went back to Donald this week to stop Wednesday's vote, the judge declined to intervene, saying she lacked enough information on the Senate committee's procedures.
But the case seems destined to be back in Donald's court, perhaps as soon as this week.
Steven Mulroy, one of Ford's lawyers, said she will file a new petition with the court if the Senate overturns the election and declares her seat vacant.
"(The judge) is retaining jurisdiction and will expect us to come back in if the Senate votes the way we expect it to," Mulroy after a two-hour hearing before Donald.
Ford contends the Senate is violating the constitutional rights of District 29 residents by tossing out ballots without giving challenged voters the chance to defend their eligibility.
Ford's seat was held by her brother John until last May, when he resigned after his indictment in the Tennessee Waltz public corruption investigation.
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Associated Press Writer Woody Baird in Memphis contributed to this report.
In the words of Clinton..."Ophelia pain".
Ford FUNERAL Home!!!!!! OMG....the dead really DO vote!!!! OMG! Wonder if that funeral home does every burial by the book....since they cheat at voting........
In the precinct where the two dead voters were, the Republican candidate got 1 vote.
ROTFLMAO!!!!! Geeesh, that's great. :`)
I think Ophelia will let it lie. Harry Jr can't have this hanging around the closer it gets to November.
Which book?
wink, wink
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