Posted on 12/23/2003 8:32:52 PM PST by Jomini
Pitt County's citizens who live in the 1st Congressional District will begin a new year with a shadow of doubt over their representation in Washington.
A federal grand jury is considering testimony from an FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office investigation into a now defunct drug and alcohol counseling program funded by state money and begun by U.S. Rep. Frank Ballance, a Democrat from Warrenton. In October, a state audit identified $325,000 in questionable expenses by the John A. Hyman Foundation and found the organization riddled with conflicts of interest.
The audit confirmed poor practices, inattention to records and lack of oversight at the foundation. It determined funds had been disbursed inappropriately to Ballance's relatives and longtime friends, including paying his daughter Valerie $5,000 for work that was not performed. It found Ballance himself made decisions on which churches and groups received grants from the foundation, and that he signed the checks.
Ballance responded by saying errors had been made, but he believed "public monies have always been used for the public good for which they were authorized."
Along with the obvious issues of poor management at the Hyman Foundation, the audit's findings raise clear questions of propriety about Ballance's relationship with the organization. It is appropriate and important that a thorough and objective inquiry probe those questions and determine whether wrongdoing has occurred.
The state Republican party chair has called for Ballance's resignation, saying he used the organization as a slush fund. Yet that would seem premature.
Ballance's conduct in this instance reflects directly on his judgment and actions as an elected official representing the public. He is no newcomer to the expectations of propriety the public arena demands, having served 18 years in the state Legislature, including four in the House and 14 in the Senate.
If wrongdoing is found, he should be prepared to step down. That is the only course that serves the public good.
In the meantime, his constituents will await the findings of the investigations into his actions.
Frank Ballance now like a wide receiver stood up over the middle by a defensive back. His whole team wants him down but the speedy GOP defenders ready to pummel him and make him cough up the ball. This issue will dominate NC election politics in 2004 and serve to taint the Democrats much as the Meg Scott Phipps case has done.
If the election were held today Congressman Burr would be defeated by Bowles. However the gentleman from Winston-Salem will come romping home like the Derby winner down the backstretch at the Belmont Stakes -- that is, he will run Bowles down aided in part by a collapse of conservative Democrat support and flocks of minority voters staying home.
The GOP must continue to pound this issue in North Carolina. To do so forces Easley and Basnight to distance themselves from the criminal Balance, thus further alienating eastern North Carolina minority voters -- many of whom are outraged with the current OLF controversy and recent betrayals from Raleigh on this issue.
Ballance's opponent in the 2002 election took pains to avoid the Hyman money laundering issue during the campaign while merely stating that Ballance was "not ready for prime time in Washington."
He was right...
J
Now Ballance will be destroyed -- and only avoid prison by giving up his underlings in the First District. When the smoke clears eastern North Carolina will have experienced Transformational Development (Section five) and the GOP will sweep the ticket in 2004.
Ballance not only ran a political slush fund with the public's money but he also took tens of thousands of dollars from out of state elements that have been tied to the funding of Muslim terrorist organizations overseas. Combined with his illegal influence peddling of USDA grant funds during the past decade, it is easy to see why the Federal government has recently initiated an additional criminal probe.
Frank Ballance should have stayed on Jones Street playing second fiddle to Mark Basnight. Instead this modern day Icarus flew close to the sun and was burned by the Balkan Solution. The NC GOP has their own General Giap -- and he takes no prisoners...
Frank Ballance beaucoup dinky dao...
J
Mr. D to take on the role of President Eisenhower and introduce democracy to eastern North Carolina!
Let's hope he has learned his lessons from the past.
Stretching back to 1972, recognized as the real beginning of the modern GOP in NC, there have been 11 elections for US Senate in this State. The Pubbies have won 8. Next year they will make it 9 for 12. No way Erskine Bowles wins, not this year, not with this President on the ticket. In fact Bowles, lost the 02 race to Dole by one of the largest margins ever.
OK, Greg, I'll bite....who is the GOP's General Giap? Might his name be Mr. D?
Finally, if Ballance resigns, the Dems will still win that seat.
It means much crazy in Vietnam War Soldier slang.
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