Ford battles political newcomer Sheriff
For all the times speaking his mind has gotten Sen. Robert Ford in hot water, those politically incorrect, stir-the-pot gaffes might put him at an advantage in November.
Voters will choose between Ford, a Democrat, and his opponent Scotty Sheriff, who is a Republican and an enigma, for Charleston County’s state Senate District 42.
Both men, though, are starting at the same spot when it comes to one front: neither has raised any campaign money.
Sheriff has not filed a campaign disclosure form for any of this year’s quarters, a requirement when a campaign spends or receives its first $500.
Ford, as of his most recent form filed in July, is about $26,500 in debt. He spent nearly $176,600 on a hard-fought primary.
The men, who have never met, both pledge to start raising funds now to try and make the case to the voters of why one deserves to defeat the other.
“I come from a trusted institution here in Charleston,” said Sheriff, 29, an attorney and a graduate of The Citadel. “I run a small business and have created over 30 jobs throughout the state. “I think we all need a change. I think I will be able to get in there and shake things up and promote new ideas.”
Ford, a 59-year-old community developer, said after serving in the Senate since 1993 he is better poised than ever to make things happen. He cited his ranking as a senior Democrat on several committees.
Ford’s controversial remarks have made him a household name, for better or worse, particularly in 2007 when he said Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama could doom the party’s candidates in the fall if he made it to the top of the ticket. Ford later apologized.
As for his re-election, Ford said he thinks he is the only elected official in the whole country to see the margin of racial disparity in mortgages and the first to do something about it.
Earlier this year, he held a series of almost a dozen public hearings across the state to take on sub-prime lending practices that hit minorities harder in Charleston County than almost anywhere else nationwide.
Ford, who helped author bi-partisan legislation to counter the disparity, said fighting bad lending practices and predatory lenders will continue to be a priority if he is re-elected. He wants to also push for the popular election of judges and more civic and geography classes for schoolchildren.
Sheriff said he wants to help small business move into District 42 that will bring higher paying jobs. He also wants to keep kids off the street and in after-school programs.
A stronger educational system will help lower the crime rate, Sheriff said. To help remedy the crime situation, he also wants more patrols in the area.
Robert Ford
Birth date: Dec. 26, 1948.
Family: Single.
Education: Attended Grambling State and Wayne State universities.
Occupation: Community developer.
Previous elected office: Senate (1993-present); Charleston City Council (1974-1992).
Something most people don’t know about me: ‘Most people don’t know that I was the youngest staff member on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and I went to jail 73 times for civil disobedience to enjoy the freedoms that we have today.’
Name a specific goal you hope to accomplish if elected: ‘The most important goal for me still is to fight for the election of judges by popular vote.’
Contact: (843) 813-1777.
Web site: www.senatorford.net
Scotty Sheriff
Birth date: Sept. 11, 1979.
Family: Wife, Lauren.
Education: The Citadel and Texas Tech University School of Law.
Occupation: Attorney.
Previous elected office: None.
Something most people don’t know about me: ‘We’ve helped a lot of families in South Carolina find their dream of owning a home by giving many hours of free legal advice.’
Name a specific goal you hope to accomplish if elected: ‘To have a lower crime rate in our district as well as having a better outreach program for kindergartners through 12th-graders in all the schools.’
By Yvonne Wenger
The Post and Courier
September 24, 2008