Lynn School Commitee member, Tisei locked in dispute

LYNN – A political “he said/he said” has erupted regarding a video clip of Democrat John Ford that is making the rounds as a Republican campaign ad for congressional candidate Richard Tisei.”I don’t appreciate it,” said Ford. “I’m a lifelong Democrat; for me to be on a Republican website is just wrong.”A spokesman for Tisei’s campaign said it has declined to take down the YouTube clip. Tisei, who narrowly lost to incumbent Democrat John Tierney in 2012, is challenging the nine-term congressman again this year. Tierney is also facing September primary challenges within his own party from Seth Moulton of Salem and Marisa DeFranco of Middleton.Ford, who served as an aide to former state Rep. Steven Walsh, D-Lynn, and still works at the State House, said he was out of town when he learned that Tisei’s campaign used a clip from a local cable access show he filmed with his fellow School Committee member Rick Starbard.Starbard and Ford filmed a show where they discussed the impact that the influx of unaccompanied minors was having on the Lynn Public Schools.In the short clip, Ford states that Tierney did nothing in 2012 to help the city deal with the 74 unaccompanied minors who had come into the school system.”It was embarrassing ? basically he said, ?you’re on your own,'” Ford said in the brief clip.Starbard admitted he was surprised by Ford’s comment at the time, but he agreed that Ford was correct: Tierney did nothing to help the School Department and said there was nothing he could do at the time, Starbard said.However, Starbard also said he was disheartened to find that the Tisei campaign didn’t take the clip down.”For me to say that, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but (Ford) works in the State House,” Starbard said. “I understand why he’s upset, and I understand the position he’s in.”Ford said he has asked the Tisei campaign to remove his image from the ad.Charles Szold, communications director for Tisei’s campaign, confirmed that Ford asked to have the clip removed from the website, but they have declined. Szold said there is no legal basis to take it down.Ford asserted his remarks were taken out of context and that recent discussions with Tierney prove there is no problem between them, and a letter to the mayor outlines what Tierney is doing to try to help with the current situation.Ford also scoffed at the rumors that Tierney is pressuring him to deny the statement and have the video removed from Tisei’s website.”Pressure me? At my age, what can he do to me?” Ford asked. “It’s not like I’m a political candidate for mayor.”Ford said what’s most frustrating is that city officials, himself and Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy included, are being portrayed as racists after voicing their concerns over the effect that unaccompanied minors and refugee children are having on the school district.”The whole show was supposed to strictly address the racist issue,” he said. “That’s what really bothers me.”Starbard said he is most bothered by the fact that although both school and city officials have been raising concerns about the number of out-of-country students flowing into the school system for several years, government officials have waited until now to take notice.”The government did nothing to stop this when it was a trickle, and now it’s a tsunami,” he said.