DETROIT (WKZO) -- A former felon is asking voters in Michigan's First Congressional District to forget about his past.  Brian Banks admits he made "poor decisions" in the past which include writing bad checks and credit card fraud between 1998 and 2004.

Banks is open about his past mistakes but at least one high profile backer of Banks did not know about his past.  Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon endorsed Banks but his spokesman says the Sheriff is "shocked" about Banks' criminal record.

Banks is facing Republican Dan Schulte in the race that covers northeast Detroit, Harper Woods, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Shores.