MEMPHIS, TN (localmemphis.com)--Harold Ford Sr. is suing his son and nephew for using his name on a campaign flyer endorsing certain candidates in Thursday's election.
It was billed as the Harold Ford Sr. election day ballot. Ford Sr. says he didn't know anything about the flyer and didn't give permission for it to be distributed. In fact, many of the candidates we spoke to said they didn't know they were appearing on the ballot either.
"I didn't know I was on the ballot until you informed me," said Register of Deeds Tom Leatherwood.
Tom Leatherwood was surprised to learn he and a number of other Republicans were listed on what was portrayed as the official ballot of Harold Ford Sr. and handed out to voters on election day.
Ford ballots have been around for years and typically list Democrats endorsed by the Ford family, but not this year.
"This time the Ford Sr. ballot didn't originate with Ford Sr. But regardless, I appreciate being on there," said Leatherwood.
According to the lawsuit, Ford Sr. says son Isaac and Shelby County Commissioner Justin Ford violated Tennessee law and engaged in intentional law fraud and bad faith. They used Ford Sr.'s name and likeness for their own personal and political agendas.
"The Ford ballot came about as a very late proposition to my team," said Ricky Wilkins.
Former candidate Ricky Wilkins' name appeared on the Ford ballot and his campaign was notified his name would be there. Wilkins says he didn't pay to be on it and didn't know about it until he was at a polling site.
"The thing that struck me was the size. It was very large compared to the rest of the active ballots," said Wilkins.
"The fords have always had a little internal situation that is combustible," said political watcher Jackson Baker
http://bit.ly/1pjjUn2
It was billed as the Harold Ford Sr. election day ballot. Ford Sr. says he didn't know anything about the flyer and didn't give permission for it to be distributed. In fact, many of the candidates we spoke to said they didn't know they were appearing on the ballot either.
"I didn't know I was on the ballot until you informed me," said Register of Deeds Tom Leatherwood.
Tom Leatherwood was surprised to learn he and a number of other Republicans were listed on what was portrayed as the official ballot of Harold Ford Sr. and handed out to voters on election day.
Ford ballots have been around for years and typically list Democrats endorsed by the Ford family, but not this year.
"This time the Ford Sr. ballot didn't originate with Ford Sr. But regardless, I appreciate being on there," said Leatherwood.
According to the lawsuit, Ford Sr. says son Isaac and Shelby County Commissioner Justin Ford violated Tennessee law and engaged in intentional law fraud and bad faith. They used Ford Sr.'s name and likeness for their own personal and political agendas.
"The Ford ballot came about as a very late proposition to my team," said Ricky Wilkins.
Former candidate Ricky Wilkins' name appeared on the Ford ballot and his campaign was notified his name would be there. Wilkins says he didn't pay to be on it and didn't know about it until he was at a polling site.
"The thing that struck me was the size. It was very large compared to the rest of the active ballots," said Wilkins.
"The fords have always had a little internal situation that is combustible," said political watcher Jackson Baker
http://bit.ly/1pjjUn2
RSS Feed