Robert Ford

Personal life Ford was born in New Orleans, Louisiana; his parents were leaders in the African American community. Ford attended Wayne State University He was arrested 73 times for participating in protests during the civil rights movement. In 1973, he won a draft evasion trial on basis of conscientious objection. and later became a full-time legislator. However, he was not convicted. taking office in 1993. Ford is a member of the South Carolina Legislative Black Caucus. Ford resigned on May 31, 2013 during a brewing campaign finance scandal.

Ford has been described as entertaining, controversial, He supported Hillary Clinton in the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries and questioned Barack Obama's appeal to white voters. Ford later apologized for his comments, stating that any Democrat could win Ford's comments prompted a primary challenge in 2008 from Charleston lawyer Dwayne Green. In the beginning of his campaign, Green managed to raise double the amount of campaign funds Ford raised, and although Ford's fundraising improved he for the first time attended a candidate forum to receive free publicity, because his campaign had financial difficulty resulting from the contested primary and a fire in his home. Green was defeated in the primary election by a wide margin. Ford praised Obama's election in November 2008, but criticized South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn's family for allegedly attempting to profit off Obama's victory.

Political positions

As senator, Ford has introduced many bills with only a small number becoming law, but has been more successful in contributing to compromise bills. It was the last state capitol to display a Confederate battle flag, and Ford had picketed the building in the 1960s as a symbol of discrimination. bill that paired Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with Confederate Memorial Day as paid holidays. Ford stated that he hoped the legislation would improve race relations in South Carolina.

Ford described the election of judges by popular vote as a major goal He supported giving more authority to law enforcement, including the ability to search people on parole and probation without warrant, making attempted murder a crime with lifelong sentence, and increasing penalties for possession of illegal guns. Ford is a proponent of stricter regulations of the financial industry. He sponsored a 2006 ban on payday lending, which was shown to discriminate against African Americans. In 2008, Ford blocked all House bills in the Senate until the bill was taken up. The bill failed in the Senate by a close vote and was heavily amended so lenders would not be banned but restricted. The bill then passed with Ford voting in favor but failed to advance after changes made in the House. A bill preventing consumers from taking out more than one loan at a time passed the House in 2009. Ford supported offshore drilling, stating conservation was not a priority for most citizens of the state. Geologists believe there is little oil to be found off the South Carolina coast. Ford wants to prevent the widening of Interstate 26 through Charleston, calling instead for a study for transportation needs. Ford emphasized the need for more funding for school programs, which he claimed is necessary due to the small number of pupils attending college and to remedy lacks of knowledge in geography and civics, which he wants reinstated as a school subject. Ford was told about favoritism, intimidation and racism in the South Carolina Highway Patrol and publicized it with Glenn McConnell. Subsequently, director and deputy director of the South Carolina Department of Public Safety resigned under pressure from governor Mark Sanford.

Ford sponsored legislation defining a hate crime "as an assault, intimidation or threat based on 'actual or perceived' race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin and sexual orientation." He also introduced several bills concerning gay rights in lodging, hospital visitation rights and partnerships. His partnership bill would provide for civil unions in South Carolina. The effort was judged by state senator Mike Fair as predetermined to fail, but Ford cited the Democratic National Committee's platform on the issue and argued that Barack Obama's election showed that a change should be attempted. Even if passed, the measure would be unenforceable, due to a constitutional amendment banning unions similar to marriage in South Carolina. Ford worked to outlaw profanity and saggy pants and to keep music from minors that is "profane, vulgar, lewd, lascivious or indecent." Ford argued he did not expect these proposals to be approved but wanted to start a discussion specifically targeting young African American men's fashion as well as rap music. He stated: "You don't have to emulate prisoners no more. You can emulate somebody like Barack Obama." and he mostly opposed Sanford's fiscal policy and worked to override budget vetoes by the governor, claiming he was removed from the interests of citizens. An exception were security measures for the State House complex which Ford agreed were too costly. He also opposed Sanford's goal to increase the number of roll calls in the State Senate and voted against a 2008 immigration reform bill favored by Sanford, stating it would be an ineffective deterrent and would lead to less driving safety. The reform would have required all employers to use state driver's licenses or a database from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to check the legal status of workers. Ford co-sponsored a bill with Glenn McConnell that would limit the governor's authority to appoint and remove board members overseeing the Charleston port and increase required qualifications for board members. Ford opposed a bill giving Sanford authority over the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

2010 Gubernatorial candidacy

Ford ran to succeed Mark Sanford as Governor of South Carolina in the 2010 gubernatorial election. something he has proposed since the late 1990s. A law Ford sponsored in 2008 to make gambling legal failed to advance; he planned a voter referendum to repeal the ban. Sheheen's campaign has raised $33,000 as of January 2009, while Ford's campaign raised $6,000.

Ford did not have a primary opponent on June 11, 1996.

General election, November 5, 1996

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome Robert Ford Democratic 11,315 (64.87%) Elected Tim Scott Republican 6,110 (35.03%) Defeated

South Carolina State Senator, 42nd Senatorial District, 2000

Primary election

Threshold > 50%

First Ballot, June 13, 2000

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome Robert Ford Democratic 2,112 (48.64%) Run-off Maurice Washington Democratic 1,191 (27.43%) Run-off Reuben R. Reeder Democratic 1,039 (23.93%) Defeated

Second Ballot, June 27, 2000

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome Robert Ford Democratic 2,397 (60.35%) Elected Maurice Washington Democratic 1,575 (39.65%) Defeated

Ford won the general election unopposed on November 7, 2000.

South Carolina State Senator, 42nd Senatorial District, 2004

Primary election, June 8, 2004

Threshold > 50%

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome Robert Ford Democratic 2,684 (89.35%) Elected Brian K. Maxwell Democratic 320 (10.65%) Defeated

General election, November 2, 2004

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome Robert Ford Democratic 14,677 (69.03%) Elected Maurice Washington Petition 6.580 (30.95%) Defeated

South Carolina State Senator, 42nd Senatorial District, 2008

Primary election, June 10, 2008

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome Robert Ford Democratic 22,660 (81.82%) Elected Scotty Sheriff Republican 5,014 (18.11%) Defeated

South Carolina State Senator, 42nd Senatorial District, 2012

Senator Ford was unopposed for reelection in both the Democratic primary and the general election.

General election, November 6, 2012

Candidate Affiliation Support Outcome Robert Ford Democratic 30,064 (98.82%) Elected Various Write-in 360 (1.18%)