Ford Motor expresses concern about Mason, Tennessee, takeover by state

Residents of Mason, Tenn. pray at a community meeting March 10. / Photo by John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout
Residents of Mason, Tenn. pray at a community meeting March 10. / Photo by John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout

Ford Motor Company is in communication with the Tennessee comptroller about its financial takeover plans for Mason, Tennessee, a small majority-Black town located less than 5 miles from the automaker's new electric vehicle plant, a company spokesperson said Friday.

However, Virginia Rivers - Mason's vice mayor - said no one with Ford has reached out to any of the town's leaders.

Tennessee Comptroller Jason Mumpower announced last week the state would be taking financial control of Mason, over the objections of elected officials who have said race is playing a role in the state's focus on their town - an allegation Mumpower has denied.

(READ MORE: Tennessee officials ask residents of town near new Ford site to forfeit charter)

The statement from Ford said company officials are "aware of the long-running situation between Mason and the state of Tennessee but we have not been directly involved."

"We have reached out to state and local community leaders to express concern and learn more," said the statement from Angie Kozleski, a Ford spokesperson. "As we ramp up construction of Blue Oval City this year and move toward production in 2025, Ford is absolutely committed to being a good neighbor and providing inclusive and equitable opportunities for West Tennesseans, including the residents of Mason."

Rivers said she is concerned Mason officials are being bypassed in communications with Ford. Neither she, nor Mayor Emmit Gooden nor any of the town's elected aldermen have heard from Ford, she said Friday.

"Who is Ford referring to when they state that they reached out to local community leaders to express concern?" she said. "It most definitely has not been the leaders of the town of Mason."

(READ MORE: Tennessee comptroller takes over majority-Black town Mason ahead of Ford investment)

Kozleski clarified after the Tennessee Lookout first published this story online that Ford officials had reached Van Turner Jr., president of the NAACP Memphis branch. The Tennessee Conference of the NAACP has offered support to town officials.

Blue Oval City is Ford's $5.6 billion electric truck and battery plant, expected to generate 26,000 jobs - directly and indirectly - when it becomes operational by 2025. It represents a massive new investment in West Tennessee, and elected leaders in the three-county area surrounding it are preparing for a population boom, new businesses and other developments.

Mumpower has cited a 20-year history of financial mismanagement in Mason and suggested the prosperity expected to land in the region may bypass Mason if the town is perceived as lacking sound governance.

Mason's elected officials - all but one are African-American - have said they believe the financial takeover is coming just as they are about to reap benefits that could restore the town's financial footing after years of fiscal mismanagement, and in two instances, fraud during previous administrations led by white elected officials.

(READ MORE: Scramble begins over how to house up to 30,000 Ford plant workers in rural Tennessee)

Mason officials and the comptroller are scheduled to meet Tuesday about the state's newly imposed financial oversight.

Read more at TennesseeLookout.com.

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