Ford intensifies 'aggressive' campaigning for runoff

October 02, 2008
LOCAL POLITICS

Ford intensifies 'aggressive' campaigning for runoff

By Jeff Thompson
for The Tuskegee News

TUSKEGEE, Alabama (STPNS) -- The municipal runoff is days away–the last hurdle before Macon County crosses the November 4 general election finish line – and both candidates for mayor are making the final plea for support from the voters.

Only two forums have been scheduled for the 2008 runoff, one of which was held last Sunday (September 28) by the Macon County Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and was strictly for mayoral candidates Johnny Ford and Omar Neal.

Neal and Ford said they felt the forum had more of a debate atmosphere. Both candidates had podiums and were allowed back-and-forth banter to some extent. Both said they came out with confidence. “I think it went in my favor,” Neal said. “I think the public recognized that my opponent has no new ideas.”

“I think it was fair, enthusiastic and energetic,” Ford said. “And I think those in attendance saw a real difference between the two of us.”

And, in the meantime, the real politics have been going on elsewhere.

Ford said he began an “aggressive” campaign against Neal earlier this month that he said was a response to Neal’s advertisements in The Tuskegee News. Neal’s ads gave Tuskegee a “zero” grade for progress in several categories during Ford’s terms in office.

“This business of giving zeros on everything is an unfair indictment of the total community,” Ford said.

So far, three mail-outs have been sent from Ford’s campaign that each attack Neal at a different focal point.

The first mail-out was a flyer designed to question Neal’s service as a Macon County Commissioner – “Omar Neal’s idea of public service is serving himself,” it reads. Neal served one term on the commission from 1996 to 2000 before being voted out. Three Macon County citizens are pictured and quoted on the flyer essentially saying Neal was a poor commissioner, difficult to contact and out of touch with his constituents.

“I think it’s a perfect example,” Ford said. “He’s calling for change and change is good, but he’s clearly established he’s not the change people are looking for. He had the opportunity to serve and didn’t have a record that convinced the people to keep him in office.”

The Tuskegee News has not seen the second mail-out, but Neal said it’s a picture of his car, a Lexus SC430, that alleges Neal is stealing from the Macon County Coalition for Community Advancement (MCCCA), a local grant-funded group he heads.

Ford, though, said the flyer focuses on the digital billboard erected near Washington Plaza paid for with funds from the MCCCA. Ford’s claim in the flyer, he said, was not that Neal was stealing money, but rather that the MCCCA could have better used the money for school supplies for the children of Macon County.

The other flyer is recently released and is pictured in Ford’s ad in The Tuskegee News this week. It’s a photo of Omar Neal in a Native American headdress that portrays Neal’s run for mayor as a move by special interests to gain control of the community.

The headdress is apparently designed to visually link Neal to the Poarch Creek Indians, which contributed money to the Child PAC (Political Action Committee) in 2007. Neal’s campaign received $2,000 from Child PAC and Ford’s campaign is using the contribution against Neal.

The Tuskegee News first reported that the Poarch Creek Indians contributed to Child PAC during the general election campaigns in August. In the same story, it was also reported that VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor has made contributions to Child PAC.

“If anyone contributes to my campaign, they’re contributing to good government,” Neal said.

Neal has been on the defensive since Ford began the aggressive campaign, choosing more often than not to address the claims against him rather than campaign for himself when he has the public’s attention. But Neal’s claim is that he can’t see the point in destroying his opponent’s reputation just to win an election and has chosen to walk the high ground.

Neal has said previously that he believes the digital billboard erected by MCCCA will serve to improve the overall mindset of the community by highlighting positive things. Also, Neal said he stands by the decision to erect the billboard, but isn’t the sole decision maker for what MCCCA does with its money.

As for Neal’s service record as a commissioner, Neal said under his administration that the county improved from a budget deficit to a budget surplus and caught up on all audits. The Macon County jail, though built under court order, was done so while Neal was in office.

Neal said Ford’s flyers are insulting and feels secure they will only hurt Ford’s campaign.

“The people don’t like it,” Neal said. “Those aren’t the kind of ads we’re used to seeing in this community. What’s happened is he’s (Ford) spent thousands of dollars on polling and now he’s recognizing he needs to be nasty to win.

“I’m considering suing him when this is all over,” Neal continued.

But it still remains to be seen whether or not Neal’s clean campaign or Ford’s aggressive one will prevail. Ford said he feels more confident going into this runoff than he did going into the runoff for Tuskegee Mayor against Ron Williams in 1996 – an election he lost.

Neal feels confident as well, naming the results from the August municipal election as a reason. Neal led Ford in the final vote count 927 to 915 heading into the runoff and he said he thinks Ford’s vote total won’t increase by much because people aren’t taking well to the negative campaign.

Tuskegee will find out one way or the other Tuesday, October 7. Polls will be open at the Municipal Complex located at 101 Fonville Street from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.