Green, Ford battle rages
Lawyer, state senator fight for District 42 seat
By Robert Behre
Charleston lawyer Dwayne Green decided to run against state Sen. Robert Ford after he heard Ford say that if U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois were to win the Democratic presidential nomination, it would doom the party's candidates in the fall.
Ford apologized soon afterward, but the comment was out there.
Ford, who needs to defeat Green in the June 10 Democratic primary to get re-elected to a fifth term, was not impressed with his opponent's reasoning.
"That's one of the most ridiculous things I've heard in my life, somebody running because of a comment I made about another candidate," Ford said, adding that Green mentions how he graduated from Princeton University. "If that's the kind of craziness they teach at Princeton, then they need to shut down that institution."
That comment is not the only way Obama's historic candidacy is affecting the Senate District 42 race, the most prominent primary contest in the Lowcountry's black communities.
Green said he admires Obama's focus on the positive, his grass-roots success and his desire to bring people together.
Green noted that while Ford backed U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, Obama ended up winning 78 percent of the vote within the district's precincts.
"It's not my intention at all to criticize Robert Ford and bring up negatives about him," Green said. "I respect what he's done in the past, but I want to give voters a different choice for the future."
For his part, Ford declined to talk about Green, saying, "I just run for the seat."
College of Charleston political science professor Bill Moore predicted Ford's Obama comment would largely be a nonissue.
"The focus is going to be more on Robert Ford and his relationship with his constituency and how he's performed with his constituency over the time he's been in the state Senate," Moore said. "He finds himself in a strong position as an incumbent with the name recognition in the district. It would be considered a major upset if he were to lose that race."
Green said he has polled District 42 voters and found they're most concerned about crime, education and health care, and he has specific ideas about addressing each.
He favors rewriting sentencing guidelines to emphasize punishment for violent offenses over other kinds and improving coordination among police and prosecutors. On education, he would push for moving the state's best teachers into the classrooms where they're most needed and for expanding early childhood education.
"Studies have shown that when students start earlier, they do better and they tend not to drop out in higher percentages later on," Green said.
He favors raising more money for health care, he said, by passing a $1 per-pack cigarette tax increase instead of the 50-cent raise working its way through the General Assembly this year. "That would still put us among the lowest (cigarette taxes) in the nation," he said.
Green notes that Ford's legislative record shows most of his bills would revive gambling in some form, and few of Ford's bills pass.
Ford said his accomplishments include raising about $240,000 to promote the S.C. Education Lottery, which voters ultimately approved. He also said he has fought to erase Charleston County's school funding deficit, to reduce property taxes and to get more money for new school buses and dilapidated schools.
Ford said he is proud not only of his perfect attendance but of his relationship with the Senate leadership, including influential Sens. Glenn McConnell, president pro tem, and Hugh Leatherman, chairman of the Finance Committee.
"I've got probably the best relationship with the Republican leadership than any other Democrat," Ford said. "That relationship pays off," particularly with competitive grants.
While Ford's Senate biography describes his occupation as "developer," he said he's a full-time senator. He said that's an advantage he offers over Green, who has a law practice in Charleston.
"I have donated my life to service to people, and that's what the Senate is," Ford said.
Ford said his biggest frustration is the difficulty appointing more black judges. He favors solving the problem by holding popular elections for judges.
Green had a commanding lead in fundraising as of the last report, but Ford said he has raised about $70,000 since that news broke.
Ford's campaigning style is similar to that of previous years. He recently sent out Mother's Day cards to women in the district. The cards are chock-full of letters, fliers and photos about Ford's Senate activities — even a poem he wrote titled "It Is So Woman."
Green's campaign is more conventional. He already has been airing a biographical television ad and has at least one other spot to come.
The contest took on an added twist a week ago when Ford returned from a service at the Morris Street Baptist Church to find his West Ashley house filled with smoke. He lost clothes and irreplaceable Civil Rights-era mementoes in the fire and won't be able to move back in for several more weeks.
Ford said that wouldn't interfere with his campaigning.
"For the next five or six years, I guess I'll be in debt if the insurance doesn't cover it," he said. "If they cover some of it, that will be all right."
One story of this year's legislative races is to what degree Gov. Mark Sanford has targeted lawmakers blocking his agenda. Ford said Sanford is involved in the District 42 race, and Ford and Green differ on Sanford's restructuring goals. Green said reform is long overdue, while Ford has opposed letting go of the Legislature's lock on power.
Sanford appointed Green to the S.C. Parole Board, but Green said, "The governor did not ask me to run. Mayor (Joe) Riley did not ask me to run. That was a decision I made on my own."
The Post and Courier
Robert Ford
Robert Ford
Birthdate: Dec. 26, 1948.
Family: Single.
Education: Attended Grambling State University and Wayne State University.
Occupation: Developer.
Previous elected office: S.C. Senate (1993-present); Charleston City Council (1974-1992).
Why are you running for office?
'There's only one reason you should run for public office, and that's because you want to take care of the needs of people in your district or your state.'
What's the toughest issue facing the state?
'Thirty-seven states have a form of election of judges (but not South Carolina). That way, you would have much more diversity on the bench. You'd have more African-American men and women and everything else.'
The Post and Courier
Dwayne Green
Dwayne Green
Birthdate: Oct. 13, 1969.
Family: Wife, Toya, two daughters.
Education: Graduated from Princeton University with a political degree; Graduated from University of Iowa College of Law.
Occupation: Lawyer.
Previous elected office: None.
Why are you running for office?
'I want to help make South Carolina a better place and move us forward as a state.'
What's the toughest issue facing the state?
'Improving our education and public school system.'
Reach Robert Behre at rbehre@postandcourier.com or 937-5771.
E-mail this story
Printer-friendly version
Comments
zoomru (anonymous) says...
Senator Dwayne Green! Do YOU have GUTS!! I hope YOU DO!!
You need to ask SC Senatoro Roberto Ford-ASA what he has accomplished for the STATE of South Carolina!! If he smiles..about the LOTTERY? ASK him how many POWERBALL JACKPOT WINNERS there have been???
Your comment "'Improving our education and public school system" being a tough issue is right. But..BUT! I've got an issue for you to cut your teeth on. LANDFILLS my friend! That's Right ..LANDFILLS! We have only 18 in the STATE! Far fewer than schools!!! The solution to closing these DUMPS will be using machines similar to the ones found at www.startech.net !! They plasmafy the trash and produce Hydrogen and electricity to ....SELL or be SWAPPED for CREDIT from the power company! As it stands NOW, there is too much slush money coming back around from the haulers into county council to do what is RIGHT!!! THEY think land is CHEAP!! DO YOU?? You can take Senatoro Roberto Ford-ASA to the "Woodshed" on this ONE issue ALONE!! WHAT has he done to solve the BEES FERRY LANDFILL ISSUE?? Don't be a rookie and let him pass it off as a COUNTY PROBLEM!! You are a SMART LAWYER? Aren't YOU?! Marion County still has OPEN Field DUMPING and Laurens County is trying to expand by 140 acres?! Do you know this???!! If Senatoro Byrd-ASA has read my countless emails..he does!!! What's he doing!!!
May 12, 2008 at 2:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
If you want to know why I called him Senatoro Byrd-ASA....ask Mr.Ford why the PEE DEE is getting a COAL plant? The answer is in West Virginia!!!
May 12, 2008 at 2:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
algorelost (anonymous) says...
Go Green!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 12, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
TROOPS!!
The Rookie needs some advice!!! Senator Dwayne ...so you forgot to send out "Mothers Day Cards".
Well ...We here on the front lines have a SOLUTION!! Get yourself down to SAM's or COSTCO and buy all the
TOSTITOES you can get and go door to door!! Grand MAster Flash JR. Ford-ASA! hasn't got anything
on YOU!!! Matter of fact...call Tara up and have a cup of coffee. Get a photo OP and let everyone know that you are actually going to work WITH women
even before you take the OATH..BUSTER!!!
"Ford said his biggest frustration is the difficulty appointing more black judges. He favors solving the problem by holding popular elections for judges."
WHAT!!! You let Ford-ASA know that the People of South Carolina don't care if one of those fine
"visiting Immigrants" were appointed a judgeship as long as Lobbying Gremlins weren't in there back pockets with weekend gas money!! My LORD!! Don't get up there and just swap paper!!! We want honest, VISIBLE, CLEAR, work done for the STATE!! Not just the District!! WHAT is a PARK to your GRANDKIDS if YOU dont close down all these LANDFILLS???
www.startech.net !!!
Also, don't go up there and form some NEW COMMITTEE!! Actually ..chop a few down!!!
May 12, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scienceguy (anonymous) says...
If you like how Mr. Green's wife is advancing the interests of District 20 students, you will love the way he will take care of his constituents.
From what I can see, the Greens have taken great advantage of government handouts. Their child is at Buist, they received government tax subsidies to buy and refurbish their law office, and they even got some advantages (indirect) on the purchase of their home.
What the heck is the governor doing appointing a real estate lawyer to the Parole Board anyway? And why did Mr. Green not attend U. S. C. Law School?
May 12, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
I AM So MAN!!!
Oh Ladies...Oh Ladies
with me you won't need to be A-fraidy!!
Come out to VOTE...COmeout to VOTE
Cast your vote for GREEN ...and a man named FORD will be all She WROTE!!
I'm a Democrat... I'm a Democrat
a rascally LAWYER by trade...but I'll always pridefully remember the STATE were WE are AT!!
One DISTRICT...ONE STATE
no matter the ISSUE...MY backbone and vote will reflect progress for your STATE!
Smiling Faces...Beautiful Places
No DUMPS for US.....Now doesn't the thought of that take US all to better PLACES!!!
May 12, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
Science Guy.... You go!!
We here on the front lines are open to all forms of provacative "thought"!!!
May 12, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
Yea...
I beat pots and STOMP too...ha!!
May 12, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
KidYendor (anonymous) says...
I second Cold Beer. I don't support judgeships based on race or affirmative action and it is probably better to have appointed, screened judges. Can a white candidate say, "You'd have more European-American men and women and everything else"? It is good to have incumbents challenged and even better when they are thrown out.
May 12, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
Scienceguy: are you seriously asking about his choice in law school? Do you consider going to a South Carolina college a pre-requisite for public office in this state? He also went to Princeton. Should that also exclude him?
USC only admits between 250 300 applicants per year with a total enrollment per year of approximately 750 students.
Mr. Green graduated from Princeton, and by virtue of him graduating from an "ivy league" school he may have garnered scholarships/fellowship to another college for law school.
Who cares? He still had to pass the South Carolina Bar to practice here in the state. I am concerned that a voter would base his/her decision on who to vote for simply on what college a person went to. That thought process is far too simplistic to make such an important decision.
May 12, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MinoritySouth (anonymous) says...
So, ColdBeer I really do not understand how you can arrive at the conclusion that the appointment process would be consistently better than an election process with proper rules in place for campaign finance issues. Race does not have a direct correlation with a democratic representation of the voting public. This can be seen in Senator Obama's successful candidacy. Are you not smarter than that? Inherently, I feel a democratic process will out perform appointments statistically. Of course, neither process is perfect but the nature of a democracy is much like survival of the fittest, less than desirable performances can be weeded out.
What are the alternatives with under performing appointments?? (Under performance as a meter decided in a manner such as general approval ratings are done)
I believe appointments are inherently flawed...
May 12, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
I type my comments in word then cut and paste. this auto-refresh crap has caused me to lose my train of thought.
May 12, 2008 at 3:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scienceguy (anonymous) says...
eyfigueroa:
No, I do not consider attendance at a South Carolina college a pre-requisite to public office in this state. I respect the fact that Mr. Green graduated from Princeton. If he went to Iowa because he received more financial aid there than he would have received at U. S. C. I have no problem with his decision. But, I would like to know if he went to Iowa because he was not accepted at U. S. C. The University of South Carolina is not that hard to get into. And there is not such a demand/need for attorneys that we need two law schools in the state, particularly if so many of their graduates cannot pass the Bar.
I notice that Mr. Green touts his Ivy League education. But, I have never read whether he graduated with Honors or whether he was on Law Review at Iowa. So there may be some question of whether he is overstating his achievements.
I have known Mr. Green's parents for about twenty years (though not well) and him for almost that length of time. I have much respect for both parents and less so for Mr. Green.
May 12, 2008 at 11:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
burton (anonymous) says...
It is time for Robert Ford to go! It is time for change in District 42! I hate these politicians that stay in office forever because they think they are omnipotent, omniscient, and can't be replaced! Wake up voters of District 42. Mr. Green is a great candidate and I wish him luck!
I agree! P&C get rid of the auto refresh!!!
May 12, 2008 at 11:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
If Mr. Green touts his Ivy League education, I would assume it's because he has one. Iowa is NOT Ivy League so his class ranking there would have no bearing on his Ivy League degree. If I'd graduated from a SC school and made into an Ivy League college I would "tout" that to the world as well.
How is it he is overstating his achievements if all he's done is "tout" the Ivy League education he received from Princeton? Are you suggesting that he did NOT graduate from Princeton? His law degree from Iowa is a non-issue. Many students graduate from SC colleges and go out of state for post-graduate degrees (and very few graduate at the top of their class, with honors or participate in a Law Review). Does that make them sub-par to their counterparts that decide to get their post-graduate degrees in-state? What about the many students who graduate from SC colleges and leave the state for medical and dental schools? Are they less than desirable? Are you classifying Iowa as less than desirable as USC's School of Law? I still don't see why you are questioning his class ranking in Iowa. Has he not passed the SC Bar?
I don't get your point. If you have some sort of political or personal prejudice against the man then be upfront about it. You don't like him then you don't like him.
But this flimsy attempt at drawing some type of conclusion about a man who got an Ivy League education and for whatever reason did not return to SC for his law degree is amusing to me.
To be fair, I do NOT know this man or his family. I know nothing of him save what was published in the P&C. I live in Berkeley County so I don't have a dog in this election hunt. Frankly I could care less who wins the seat.
May 13, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scienceguy (anonymous) says...
eyfigueroa:
I do not know how many South Carolinians who plan to practice law in South Carolina and pursue a political career here choose Iowa Law School over U. S. C. Law School, though I do not imagine that the number is large. I do know, however, that I am not prejudiced towards Mr. Green. I knew him when he was at Porter-Gaud. I knew him when he attended the Governor's School at the College of Charleston. I knew him when he opened his law office with his wife. I have read some of his articles on gentrification. I am just not that impressed with either Mr. Green or his school Board Trustee wife. I believe that he is, as they say in Texas, "all hat and no cowboy."
BTW, recent actions by the South Carolina Supreme Court make me suspect that maybe noone passed the Bar.
May 13, 2008 at 6:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LEGALDIVA02 (anonymous) says...
Go Dwayne, we are proud of you! It's so easy for people like "scienceguy" to criticize others who take the initiative to solve problems in our community only to Monday morning quarterback while sitting on the side lines. It's always easy to sit on the bench and coach than it is to do it!
You keep pushing, Dwayane! Your sacrifice will pay off and will ultimately benefit the people of District 42 and citizens of SC. They, for too long, have been been saddled with an ignorant politician still stuck on the plantation!
scienceguy: Did you graduate from USC? With honors? Are you a public servant? If not, why aren't you? You made a statement in one of your earlier posts that USC is not that hard to get into- you are right, if you are a part of the good ole boy system. Perhaps your father or grandfather was a lawyer, judge, in the state legislature, doctor, or maybe a big donor of the school with a wing named after him. It's ignorant to say that USC is not that hard to get into and that there was no need for a second law school in the state. USC's systematic approach to exclude more qualified South Carolinians opened the door for someone to come along to feed the rest of the masses and fill the void. You can't be upset with that! It's called supply and demand. It's a basic concept that surely you can comprehend. Many deserving students were turned down by USC, myself included.Honors students by the way! Anyway, this is a new day and time- maybe a third law school should hit the state- the stronghold that USC once had is over. Just like Mr. Roberts "I can't pronounce my own name", Fords.
Go Greene! Bye Bye Mr. "Roberts Fords." Be a part of the solution and not the problem! It takes "testicular fortitude" to run for office against an incumbent. Funny though, it takes even less "testicular fortitude" to criticize people who do!
May 17, 2008 at 1:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scienceguy (anonymous) says...
LEGALDIVA02:
This is not about either you or me. But, for what it is worth, I have an advanced degree from the University of South Carolina. And although I have a niece and a cousin who are attorneys, we have no other lawyers in the family of which I am aware-no fathers or grandfathers anyway. My family members have traditionally been teachers, engineers, pharmacists-not lawyers, So my cousin and niece did it "on their own" without the "good old boy system."
Also for what it is worth, I am active in my community, do my fair share of volunteerism, and do not "sit on the sidelines."
If you think that either the Charleston School of Law is filling a void or that South Carolina has a scarcity of attorneys, you are misinformed. Moreover, if you graduated with Honors from the University of South Carolina, the College of Charleston, Clemson, Furman, or Princeton, and could not gain admittance to the University of South Carolina Law School, then either you are female or had subpar LSAT scores, or both.
At one time few females applied to either Law School or Medical School. But in the last few years over fifty per cent of first year Law and Med students have been women. So, admittedly, it is more difficult for women to gain admittance to into these programs. Still that does not mean that we should unleash mediocre lawyers on the public who rely on the Supreme Court changing their Bar Scores so they can pass the Bar. And the mediocre pass rate at the Charleston College of Law is a testament either to mediocre teaching or mediocre students.
Again, I do not know why Mr. Green elected to attend an out-of-state Law School. Maybe he will tell us. Maybe he will continue to pretend that he did it all on his own and that he will do more for his constituents than his wife has done for hers.
May 17, 2008 at 8:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scienceguy (anonymous) says...
LEGALDIVA02:
I note that you never responded to my last comment. However, I thought http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/17/bus... may be of interest.
You see, the world needs more engineers, not more lawyers. And with no disrespect, the existence of an additional law school in the state does not insure competition. Rather it ensures that those with influence who could not use that influence to get into Law School will have an alternative method of gaining admission to their Daddy's law firm. This insures perpetration of the status quo.
May 21, 2008 at 7:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Postandcourier.com is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Postandcourier.com does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not postandcourier.com. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Read our full Terms and Conditions.
Users can now build user-to-user connections, follow friends' recent posts, add an avatar that fits their personality, and more. If you have posted here before you'll need to sign up again, or if you've never posted before, start now by signing up!
Thank you for your interest in this story. The comment thread for this article has been closed.
- Most Commented
- Most Emailed
- Shared
- Upper King on rise: Hotels, apartments, restaurants changing face of downtown area
- Missing woman case gets murkier
- UPDATE: Missing woman's fiance seen leaving scene of burned SUV, carrying a shovel
- Magnolia Gardens offering free dream wedding to contest winner
- Body of missing woman's fiance was found near handgun
- Pinterest: Pinning hopes and dreams
- DAVID SLADE: S.C. offers hybrid car tax credit
- Black women today: Strong. Resilient. Ambitious.
- Ex-Boeing worker claims racism, retaliation in firing
- MCDERMOTT COLUMN: Golf business has risks, rewards
