Posted on 06/16/2005 4:38:16 AM PDT by GailA
Three state representatives and former state senator John Ford's sister are among 21 people interested in running for Ford's District 29 seat.
The filing deadline is one week from today.
Ford, first elected in 1974, resigned May 28 after being indicted on federal bribery charges in Operation Tennessee Waltz.
Among those who've taken out qualifying petitions are Ford's sister, Ophelia Ford, and Democratic state Reps. John DeBerry Jr., Barbara Cooper and Henri Brooks.
Ford, who filed her petition Wednesday, said she decided to run because of calls from her brother's constituents and because of her politically powerful family's support.
"I've always called myself in politics ... not a politician, but in politics because of my family -- I was born into it," she said. "You have to wait until some come out before you just bombard our whole community with Fords. I've wanted to wait until there was a good time for me to run."
Ford lives in state Senate District 31, but said she plans to move into the district soon.
Brooks, elected in 1992 to the state House, said, "I'm there. I'm ready to roll. I have leadership ability... I look forward to taking on a larger district."
DeBerry, first elected in 1994, said he'll decide next week because he's happy chairing the House Children and Family Affairs Committee. "I've got a lot of people talking to me about it," DeBerry said. "I think I'm where I should be for many of the issues that I want to work on and that's family issues."
A reporter could not reach Cooper Wednesday.
Also on the ballot will be a second special election to fill the District 87 state House seat vacated when Kathryn Bowers was elected to the State Senate in May. She was indicted on Tennessee Waltz bribery charges the week after she was sworn in. Prospective candidates include Alonzo Grant, who ran twice against Bowers, and Hamilton High School basketball star and Georgetown University graduate Omari Faulkner.
Meanwhile, County Commissioners made no interim appointments to either seat, but still are considering doing so. If so, the local Republican Party's steering committee has endorsed its vice chairman, Millington business owner Terry Roland.
Attorney Richard Fields, who ran against Ford in 2002 and lost, said, like Roland, he's interested in the appointment but not in running.
"I'm interested in anyone who can overcome what John has done to politics," Fields said. "My main purpose in running the last time was to get rid of John Ford."
Special Elections
State Senate District 29
State House District 87
June 23: Filing deadline
June 30: Withdrawal deadline
Aug. 4: Primary elections
Sept. 15: General elections
Early voting dates and locations still to be determined.
DeBerry would probably be the most conservative of the candidates from what I understand, but he'd be going from majority status in the House to minority in the Senate. It's inevitable that the GOP will gain control of the House within a couple election cycles, so DeBerry is likely reasoning that he'd be better off remaining there with his chairmanship until that happens.
I guess the Ford family can't risk allowing that seat to go unfilled by a family member. After all, having lots of family noses in the trough makes it harder for others to push their way in and wet their own beaks.
The Fords, another great American Crime family.
So, Ophelia is moving into the funeral home?
What really helps is to have all of those death records at your finger tips!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good point...
deberry has financial problems, he should get them cleared up and stay where he is.
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