Political Career
Ford was first elected to the Memphis City Council in 1971 representing South Memphis' District 6 and served until 1979. He was elected to the Tennessee Senate in 1974, the first election in his district to occur after his having reached the constitutionally-mandated age of 30, the year his brother's election to the U.S. House. He became almost immediately identified with a very direct, abrupt style which his critics felt to be arrogant and abrasive. This tended to further endear him to his constituents in Senate District 29. The district is one of the poorest in the entire state, and was overwhelmingly African American in population. He was re-elected Senator seven times, rarely facing serious opposition. He served in the Senate for over thirty years. Also, he was Shelby County General Sessions Court Clerk from 1992 thru 1996.
In the State Senate, Ford became chairman of the General Welfare, Health, and Human Resources Committee, and the chair of several subcommittees as well. The Welfare position, already powerful when he attained it, became a base for his becoming recognized as one of the most powerful Tennessee senators. He also became an expert in the TennCare managed care program when it was initiated by former governor Ned McWherter. Ford also became prominent in the National Conference of State Legislators and the National Caucus of Black State Legislators, and served for a period as chairman of the Shelby County legislative delegation. He also served one term as Speaker pro Tempore of the Senate.
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