richard.ransom@wreg.com
(Memphis 8/14/2009) - Edmund Ford, Sr. is 53 years old and has a last name that's very familiar in Memphis politics. He's a Mitchell High School graduate, received his bachelor's degree in political science from Tennessee State University and his degree for embalming from the John A. Gupton School of Mortuary Science. Ford is married with four children and served two terms on the Memphis city council. One of his sons, also named Edmund, has his father's former seat on the city council.
But then came undercover video in 2006 and federal charges that the FBI said showed Ford, Sr. taking $8,900 in bribes in exchange for his vote and influence. The jury found him not guilty and the deeply religious Ford thanked the jury and his God.
Ford said then, "He was there with the jurors... And hey my God is an awesome God and if you all don't know him you better get to know him."
The Feds also dropped charges in a second case which accused Ford of doing favors on behalf of MLGW and getting $16 thousand in unpaid utility bills in return.
What Ford told us in a brief phone conversation earlier this week is that his past with the feds no longer matters because God vindicated his name. Ford says his focus now is on the city he loves.
He says while he thinks Willie Herenton was a good mayor, he'd like to do more to heal racial divisions in Memphis. He has big plans to combine the Pyramid, Mud Island and the convention center to make it a larger convention destination.
Ford would also like to see a payroll tax because, he says, people who choose not to live in Memphis should have to pay their share for its amenities, such as the airport.
He also told News Channel 3's Richard Ransom, he'd fire Police Director Larry Godwin.
It's no accident Ford, Sr. has yet to make it down to the Election Commission to pick up his papers to run in the special election, October 15th. That's because he says his funeral home business is doing so well, his son the city councilman may run instead. If both father and son decide not to run, they will endorse a candidate, Ford says.
Ford, Sr. has yet to file any campaign finance reports.
- Edmund Ford, Sr. picks up petition to run for mayor
- Ford comes from a long time political family
- Ford says past federal charges, which were later dropped, no longer matter
(Memphis 8/14/2009) - Edmund Ford, Sr. is 53 years old and has a last name that's very familiar in Memphis politics. He's a Mitchell High School graduate, received his bachelor's degree in political science from Tennessee State University and his degree for embalming from the John A. Gupton School of Mortuary Science. Ford is married with four children and served two terms on the Memphis city council. One of his sons, also named Edmund, has his father's former seat on the city council.
But then came undercover video in 2006 and federal charges that the FBI said showed Ford, Sr. taking $8,900 in bribes in exchange for his vote and influence. The jury found him not guilty and the deeply religious Ford thanked the jury and his God.
Ford said then, "He was there with the jurors... And hey my God is an awesome God and if you all don't know him you better get to know him."
The Feds also dropped charges in a second case which accused Ford of doing favors on behalf of MLGW and getting $16 thousand in unpaid utility bills in return.
What Ford told us in a brief phone conversation earlier this week is that his past with the feds no longer matters because God vindicated his name. Ford says his focus now is on the city he loves.
He says while he thinks Willie Herenton was a good mayor, he'd like to do more to heal racial divisions in Memphis. He has big plans to combine the Pyramid, Mud Island and the convention center to make it a larger convention destination.
Ford would also like to see a payroll tax because, he says, people who choose not to live in Memphis should have to pay their share for its amenities, such as the airport.
He also told News Channel 3's Richard Ransom, he'd fire Police Director Larry Godwin.
It's no accident Ford, Sr. has yet to make it down to the Election Commission to pick up his papers to run in the special election, October 15th. That's because he says his funeral home business is doing so well, his son the city councilman may run instead. If both father and son decide not to run, they will endorse a candidate, Ford says.
Ford, Sr. has yet to file any campaign finance reports.
