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Dorothy Benford
Candidate: Dorothy “Dot” Benford (D)
Office seeking: Mayor
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Bio:
Dorothy Benford is a perennial candidate for political office. Benford has worked as an educator, as an executive director of a community service organization, and as an associate mortgage broker. The Jackson resident has sought elected office more than a dozen times since 1985. She has run as a Democrat, a Republican, and as an independent.
Though Benford has never won an election, her campaigns have generated attention.
1988 Campaign for U.S. Congress
In 1988, Benford ran as an independent against Congressman Mike Espy for Espy’s Second District Congressional Seat. She was fined for reckless driving after driving over Espy’s signs on Election Day.
2003 Campaign for Hinds County Tax Assessor
Benford received enough support to make it into a run-off against longtime Democratic incumbent Mike Barnes in the Hinds County Tax Assessor’s race.
Benford received negative attention for failing to pay or pick up some of the twenty-five homeless people she hired to hold up campaign signs for her on Election Day.
Benford promised voters she would change the Hinds County Tax Assessor’s office by hiring more black residents. Barnes won the election.
2007 Campaign for Hinds County Tax Assessor
Benford was one of a handful of Democratic candidates vying for an open Tax Assessor’s position following the retirement of Mike Barnes. In a crowded Democratic primary, Benford took 30% of the vote, doubling the second-highest vote-getter, Utica Mayor Charles Stokes. She was defeated by Stokes in the run-off election. The run-off campaign was marred by claims from Benford that Stokes was an “Uncle Tom” for Mike Barnes.
2008 Campaign for U.S. Congress
Her most recent bid for public office was an unsuccessful Congressional race against incumbent Bennie Thompson in the 2008 Second District Democratic Primary. Thompson received 86% of the vote.
In 1992, Benford was involved in an altercation with Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes. Benford filed disorderly conduct and assault charges in Jackson Municipal Court against Stokes, who maintains he didn’t touch her.
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Links to articles about candidate:
If you like Melton, you’ll love Benford - Folo, January 13th, 2009
Harden, Clay, Barnes beats Benford, faces GOP’s Matthews, The Clarion-Ledger, August 27, 2003, available at LEXIS-NEXIS.
Rupp, Leah. Election 2007: Runoff Results. The Clarion-Ledger, August 29, 2007, available at LEXIS-NEXIS.
Sawyer, Patrice. Candidates for Hinds County tax assessor differ on hiring. August 22, 2003, available at LEXIS-NEXIS.
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