Student - Veteran - Family Man
Frederick W. “Rick” Ford was born in Asheboro, North Carolina in 1945 and raised in Kentucky and Ohio. He graduated from high school in Wadsworth, Ohio, in 1963 and went on to earn his B.A, majoring in History and Government graduating with honors (cum laude) in 1967 from Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, Oklahoma. Upon graduating, Rick volunteered and served four years as an Air Force officer during the Vietnam War era Nov. 1967-Feb 1972. He served at various stations including Korea and rose to the rank of Captain before being discharged honorably in Feb.1972. He is married to Stephanie Constantine, a Human Relations Coordinator for a local non-profit agency, and has one daughter, Megan, age 24, a University of Florida graduate now a playwright in London. The Fords make their home in Palm Beach Gardens.


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Rick's Biggest Supporters - His Family




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Employee Justice Advocate
Rick Ford wanted a career where he could be of service to people. He chose the legal profession and graduated again with honors (cum laude, ranked 2nd in class) from Howard University Law School in Washington, DC in 1976. Rather than join a large law firm, Rick chose to become a solo practitioner and advocate for employees.

Rick Ford brings a depth of experience and understanding in seeking the office of State Representative from District 83. From 1984 to 1987, he served as Senior Trial Attorney with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Washington, D.C., and was the original drafter of the EEOC’s revision of the Equal Pay Act Interpretive Regulations. He has testified before several state legislative committees and the United States Senate and served as legal consultant to the U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee investigating the unauthorized transfer of presidential debate papers during the 1980 Presidential election campaign; his legal analysis was published in the final Committee Report.

He moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 1989 and has been an advocate for public employee rights and primarily litigates employment discrimination cases. The bulk of his practice has been representing public employees against governmental employers, including police departments, state, county and municipal governments. He recently set a major precedent applying the Florida Sunshine Law to public employee’s pretermination conferences.  He is proud of his record as an active attorney working for the little guy for the past 29 years. 

Community Leader
Rick Ford has always made time no matter how busy to be involved in community and political activities. He was co-director in Parma, Ohio for the George McGovern Presidential campaign staff and chaired or volunteered for Jimmy Carter and Al Gore. Rick Ford worked tirelessly as the Palm Beach County Volunteer Coordinator for the John Kerry Presidential Campaign in 2004. He is active in local Democratic Politics and has served as an officer (Parliamentarian) on the Palm Beach County Democratic Executive Committee and is a member of several Democratic Clubs. Rick Ford is a current or past member/ volunteer of many professional and community organizations: