Good riddance to my Congressmoron.
Posted on 06/08/2004 9:55:59 AM PDT by jern
Rep. Frank Ballance (D-N.C.) Resigns Congressman Cites Health as Reason for Resignation
The Associated Press Tuesday, June 8, 2004; 11:50 AM
WARRENTON, N.C. -- Rep. Frank Ballance resigned from Congress on Tuesday, saying a neuromuscular disorder has affected his ability to carry out his duties.
Ballance, 62, was diagnosed in February with myasthenia gravis, which causes muscle weakness. He said in a statement Tuesday that he was "no longer able to carry out the responsibilities of this office due to my current health condition."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Does his Congressional pension kick in? How long was he in for?
First District congressman resigns, citing health
The Associated Press
June 8, 2004 12:32 pm
WARRENTON, N.C. -- Democratic U.S. Rep. Frank Ballance resigned from Congress on Tuesday, saying a neuromuscular disorder has affected his ability to carry out his duties.
Ballance, 62, was diagnosed in February with myasthenia gravis, a condition that results in muscle weakness.
In a statement released by his office, Ballance said he was resigning as North Carolina's 1st District representative in the U.S. House effective Friday "because I am no longer able to carry out the responsibilities of this office due to my current health condition."
Spokesman Ken Willis said in a telephone interview that Ballance was at his home, but had been in the hospital last week.
"He was not here last week," Willis said. "Over the weekend, he made the decision that because of his sickness he won't be able to fulfill his duty. He's really sick."
State law requires Democratic Gov. Mike Easley to call a special election to fill the seat.
Barbara Allen, chairwoman of the state Democratic Party, said Ballance has represented North Carolina in the state Legislature and Congress for more than two decades.
"He's led the fight on issues important to North Carolina: equal rights, better schools (including early education and other efforts to close the achievement gap), good jobs, and quality and affordable health care. We are grateful to him for his service and his efforts to make the lives of all North Carolinians better," she said.
Elected to the House in 2002 after a long career in the North Carolina General Assembly, Ballance is facing a joint federal-state investigation into activities of a drug and alcohol counseling program he founded in northeastern North Carolina. The John A. Hyman Foundation was the subject of a stinging state audit in October for conflict of interest and $325,000 in questionable payments.
The foundation has received $2.1 million in state money since 1994, thanks in part to Ballance, who chairs the foundation's board.
Ballance said last month that he would not seek a second term in Congress because his medical condition would keep him from mounting an aggressive campaign.
Symptoms arose last fall, Ballance said, when he had trouble swallowing. Over the winter, he saw a specialist, was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis and was put on medication.
With several candidates having already filed to oppose him following the allegations about the Hyman Foundation, Ballance said he would have had to campaign daily and he wasn't sure he had the strength to do that.
However, he said the foundation investigation was not the direct reason he did not seek re-election.
Five Democrats have filed to seek Ballance's seat, including former state Supreme Court Justice G.K. Butterfield of Wilson.
In a statement, Butterfield said Ballance "has my unconditional support as he faces the days ahead. Frank is my friend of 30 years and he will be my friend forever."
Elizabeth City businessman Sam Davis III and Christine Fitch, a Wilson County Board of Education member and associate professor at East Carolina University, say they decided to run because of Ballance's legal problems.
Also seeking the Democratic nomination are attorney Darryl Smith of Wilson, who worked for Eva Clayton, the previous 1st District representative, and Donald Davis, mayor of Snow Hill.
Jerry Williford of Oxford and Greg Dority of Washington are seeking the Republican nomination.
Good riddance to my Congressmoron.
Jail should be in this mans near future but I doubt it will happen.
I doubt that is the reason he is quitting. Graft never affected a Democrat in that way.
What effect will this scandal have on Easley being re-elected in Nov?
Go Mr. D! ;)
Too bad, nothing more I like to see than a DemonRat going to the slammer!! Preferable celled with a homosexual rapist.
no this is the most Democratic district in the state 48% of the voters are black. I doubt it effects Governor Easley or any other race.
Yeah, his constituents were sick of him.
This will have little bearing on Easley's campaign, even though he was born in the district [Nash County, specifically].
It's time for a Republican.
Well, whatever the case, hope he gets better.
But, while we are at it, is this a realistic pickup for us?
Is he the black republican who used to be on the Beaufort county commission? I seem to recall reading about a guy who fit that description in the little Washington paper when I used to drill down there.
No they are both white guys, I have heard of the man you are talking about but I do not know what became of him. This is Walter Jones,Sr old seat and is safe Democrat. The two men running are unknowns and underfunded.
Dority is white. I don't know anything about Jerry Williford.
The final message sent by the French troops in Dien Bien Phu to the command center in Hanoi: "We’re blowing up everything. Adieu."
Likewise, Congressman Ballance exits his post in a most ignoble manner.
As they say somewhere, Frank Ballance beaucoup dinky dao...
:-)
Looks like we're going to have a special election in the First District. Easley is sprouting the line that to "save money" he wants to hold the special election the same day as the primary (July 20). Insiders say that the Democrats fear white candidate Sam Davis could emerge from the primary as the winner and Easley has cut a deal with Ballance on state charges to step down now as to help Butterfield who is running a shaky race so far.
This will be the best chance Republicans ever have to win this seat. Since the GOP is 0-2 in special elections already this presidential year they will make strong efforts to win. The GOP candidate has been running since January and is much better organized this time according to sources.
We may just win this thing as a July 20 primary turnout will be very light and the Republicans have a hot gubernatorial primary which will increase turnout.
Frank Ballance beaucoup dinky dao...
J
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 8, 2004
Contact: Greg Dority (252) 945-4243 / (252) 946-9259 www.gregdorityforcongress.com
Republican candidate for the First Congressional District of North Carolina, Greg Dority, issued a statement today commenting on Congressman Frank Ballance's decision to resign -- and calls on him to return Hyman Foundation funds to the taxpayers of North Carolina.
"I think that Frank Ballance made the right decision to resign as I first called on him to do in February," Dority said. "The developing Hyman Foundation Scandal combined with the sex offender scandal has made it impossible for him to effectively represent the people of the First District."
Dority continued, "Congressman Ballance will increasingly be under pressure from the Federal Grand Jury and I urge him to immediately return any remaining Hyman Foundation funds to the state to assure us that those funds are not improperly used by his hand picked candidate in a special election or the Democrat Primary of July 20th."
Dority also expressed concerns about monies in Congressman Ballance's campaign account. The last FEC report shows $76,643.11 cash on hand in Ballance's April reports. Since Congressman Ballance is under investigation for corruption and misuse of tax dollars, Dority feels those funds should not be distributed to other candidates until the investigation and possible indictments are completed.
"I'm calling on Congressman Ballance today to keep an arm's length distance in any possible special election and the Democrat party primary on July 20th. I feel it would be inappropriate for him to endorse any candidate financially or otherwise with the question of tainted monies from the Hyman Foundation and irregularities in his campaign accounts still unresolved. Until these issues are settled, his involvement at any level in the coming election season would be most inappropriate."
Dority feels strongly about this issue and how taxpayer monies were funneled to Ballance supporters through the Hyman Foundation in the 2002 campaign. "Should these illegal monies be used once more to influence the First District Congressional race, my campaign will not hesitate to invite the full resources of the federal government to expand their investigation. I urge all Democrat candidates to avoid any possible perception of involvement with this ongoing criminal enterprise. We cannot permit corruption to once again determine the First District Congressional election."
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