La Shawn K. Ford
| La Shawn Ford | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 8th district | |
|
Assumed office 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Calvin Giles |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Profession | Real Estate |
La Shawn K. Ford is a Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 8th District since 2007. He is currently a real estate entrepreneur, founder of Ford Desired Real Estate.
Born to an unwed teenage mother in the Cabrini-Green housing projects in Chicago, never knowing his father, and adopted by his grandmother at birth, La Shawn K. Ford started his life with few material advantages. Growing up in the Austin and Englewood communities in Chicago, he attended Catholic elementary and high schools by the hard work, tenacity and love of a supportive family and community. Ford learned the value of hard work and made money for his family by shoveling snow, mowing lawns, collecting bottles and cans for recycling, and stocking produce in the local grocery store. Being a good student, Ford became the first in his family to attend a four-year college when he entered Niles College Seminary and then Loyola University Chicago, where he played on the basketball team and earned a Bachelor of Science in Education with a minor in Political Science. For six years, Ford taught elementary school social studies and coached basketball in the Chicago Public Schools. As a licensed Real Estate Broker, he founded his own real estate business, Ford Desired Real Estate. He is an Illinois Licensed Insurance Agent and continues to be licensed as a teacher. He is the proud father of his daughter, Tia.
On November 29, 2012, Ford was indicted on charges of bank fraud alleging he provided misleading evidence to obtain a $500,000 extension on a line of credit. The charges state he used the money for personal expenses rather than rehabilitating an owned property, as stated in the loan documentation.[1]
On August 4, 2014, all 17 felony counts of bank fraud and false information against Ford were dropped by federal prosecutors in exchange for his pleading guilty to a single misdemeanor income tax charge, and Ford's trial was removed from the federal docket.[2][3][4]
Campaign contributions
In the past decade, Representative Ford has received $16,350 in campaign contributions from labor unions. This sum includes:[5]
- $3,000 from AFL-CIO
- $2,650 from AFSCME
- $200 from Illinois Education Association
- $2,500 from the Illinois Federation of Teachers
- $7,000 from the Chicago Teachers Union
- $1,000 from Service Employees International Union
References
- ↑ Staff. "Rep. LaShawn Ford indicted on bank fraud charges". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
- ↑ Janssen, Kim. "State Rep. La Shawn Ford pleads guilty to misdemeanor". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
- ↑ Meisner, Jason. "Surprising plea deal in state Rep. Ford's bank fraud case". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
- ↑ Marin, Carol. "Feds back off on ruining a good man's life". Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
- ↑ "Candidate Summary - La Shawn K. Ford", National Institute on Money in State Politics, 2 Dec 2012
External links
- Representative LaShawn Ford (D) 8th District at the Illinois General Assembly
- Profile at Project Vote Smart
- La Shawn Ford at Illinois House Democrats