County commissioners respond to Mayor Harris, grant program
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The fallout continues after a federal indictment for a Shelby County Commissioner.
On Monday, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris called to pause Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr.’s participation in grant funding conversations.
In a statement, Harris said, “The federal criminal indictment of Commissioner Ford is devastating news for the residents he serves and for all of Shelby County. Considering these allegations of criminal corruption, it is appropriate for the Commission to stop Commissioner Ford from additional grant-making and participating in the County grant-making process while the prosecution is on-going. While there is a presumption of innocence until proven guilty, his continued grant-making as a commissioner unnecessarily taints the process and undermines the credibility of this Commission program and the non-profits who participate. We will convene a meeting this week with relevant legal authorities and county officials to figure out what other steps, if any, must be taken immediately.”
Ford is accused of bribery and tax evasion, stemming from community grant funding.
Shelby County’s Milton Community Enhancement Grant Program gives about $2 million a year to nonprofit organizations across the county.
Federal investigators claim Ford has funneled at least $250,000 back into his own pockets by getting nonprofits to buy computers from companies he owns.
“I think the news of the past week or so has really given us another opportunity to look at that Milton Grant program again,” Commissioner Mick Wright told FOX13 on Monday.
Wright said although it’s a meaningful program, there needs to be accountability.
“A lot of nonprofits doing that good work, but this program has always been, I think, a question in my mind, and I think in others of who’s really making sure that program is maintained in an ethical and transparent way?”
Wright isn’t the only one second-guessing the program.
FOX13 reached out to multiple county commissioners for a response to Mayor Harris’s request.
Commissioner David Bradford responded, saying, “This is the first I’ve seen of this. I understand the mayor’s concerns. It’s late in our grant season, and my grants are almost completely distributed. I’m not aware if Com. Ford has any remaining funds. I’ll be interested to know if Chairman Whaley or the chair of the grants committee will have an add-on item for Wednesday related to this. In my first term, I voted in favor of discontinuing our grants program to help balance the budget, but it didn’t get any traction. I may dust off that resolution and see if the commission has any interest in eliminating our grants program.”
Commissioner Britney Thornton also responded, saying, “An indictment is not a conviction. Commissioner Ford has served our city and county for 17 years, with a strong track record of meeting the needs of his constituents. Prematurely cutting off his access to funds is both petty and a huge disservice to the citizens who elected him. Ford does not make unilateral decisions on our body. To the Mayor I say, stay on the 11th floor.”
Chairman Michael Whaley also sent a brief response, “I am meeting with the mayor and other officials this week to determine what actions can be taken by the Commission to ensure the integrity of the program.”
Ford entered a not guilty plea. He’s out on bond and is scheduled for a court date on Thursday, March 6.
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