Ophelia Ford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ophelia Ford
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| Member of the Tennessee Senate from the 29th district |
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| In office 2005–2014 |
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| Preceded by | John Ford |
| Succeeded by | Lee Harris |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 5, 1950 Memphis, Tennessee |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Single |
| Residence | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Alma mater | Tennessee State University |
| Profession | Funeral director, insurance agent, politician |
Ophelia Ford (born July 5, 1950) is a former politician from Tennessee. She served as a member of the Tennessee Senate. She comes from a family well-known in Tennessee politics. Her brother, John Ford, was also a state senator. Her uncle, Harold Ford, Sr., was a Congressman. Her cousin, Harold Ford, Jr., also served in Congress. Ophelia Ford represented Senate District 29. This district covers parts of South Memphis and North Memphis.
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Ophelia Ford's Political Journey
Her brother, John Ford, left his position in the Tennessee Senate in 2005. Ophelia Ford decided to run for his open seat. She won the special Democratic primary election. She then won the special general election. Both elections had some questions raised about how votes were counted.
Election Challenges and Investigations
The Tennessee Senate first voted to cancel the election results. Ophelia Ford took legal action. A federal court supported her election. The court said the Senate needed to follow certain rules. After following these rules, the State Senate voted again. On April 19, 2006, they voted to cancel the election.
Under Tennessee law, the local Shelby County Commission then had to fill the seat. Ophelia Ford continued to seek legal ways to get her seat back. She filed another federal lawsuit on April 25, 2006. This was part of her effort to regain her position.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation looked into parts of the election. The District Attorney brought charges against some poll workers. These charges were about how the election was handled. Ophelia Ford herself was not involved in any wrongdoing.
Moving Districts and Continued Service
For the 2006 election, Ophelia Ford moved to a different district in Memphis. She successfully won the election for this new district. Her original district was later given a new number. It became District 33.
Advocacy for Patient Safety
Ophelia Ford was known for sharing her strong opinions. In 2012, there was a plan to increase penalties for harming healthcare workers. Ford spoke out against this idea. She argued that patients needed more protection from nurses. She shared her own experiences as a patient. She believed patients were the ones who needed safety from harm.
