Former Wake County school board candidate Jerry Ballan may have had more than sufficient reason to drop out of the race.
Ballan was among a list of Florida businessmen who received immunity in exchange for agreeing to testify in 1991 against the operators of a bordello. While Ballan's name appeared on the bordello's client list, his secretary told a newspaper reporter in 1991 that Ballan had simply mailed his business card to the prostitute.
Ballan denied the prostitution case was the reason he dropped out of the school board race. He told reporter Ray Martin that the reason was his wife's health issues.
Click here for an article about the prostitution case. The couple that ran the bordello were later convicted on the charges.
The Wake County GOP had endorsed Ballan before he withdrew from the District 7 race.
"I don't know anything about his past that would make him want to withdraw," said Wake GOP Chairman Claude Pope. "In our candidate vetting process, we ask if there is anything in your past that would preclude you from running. He had nothing on the questionaire about that. Nor did everyone else for that matter."
Ballan, after being asked if dropping out has anything to do with his involvement in the prostitution case said "not that I'm aware of."
Ballan said he hadn't told the GOP about the case when he signed up to run.
"Absolutely not," Ballan said in an interview. "It was a personal decision because they still have not been able to determine what's wrong with my wife."
Comments
How many other WSCA
Thu, 08/06/2009 - 11:26 — MorrisVMorrisHow many other WSCA candidates also use prostitutions?
before you make
Thu, 08/06/2009 - 13:30 — AngelaWbefore you make inflammatory comments, it really helps to get your facts straight...
Ballan was NOT ever endorsed by WSCA....so your point would be???
move on with yourself...
None of the WSCA-endorsed
Thu, 08/06/2009 - 12:26 — CaryCurmudgeonNone of the WSCA-endorsed candidates have anything to do with prostitution. That might explain why you didn't bump into any on your last visit to a bordello.
<eyeroll>
Thu, 08/06/2009 - 11:46 — Dadof3For the literate, your post is a non-sequitor.
Taking liberties with interpretation and the provided bad grammar; Ballan was never endorsed by the WSCA, troll-genius.
Reading IS fundamental, especially on a education-related blog.
What in the world?
Wed, 08/05/2009 - 19:31 — concerned2I guess I should not be surprised by some of the comments here, but I am surprised this story even has legs. Regardless of Mr. Ballan's past, he is not a candidate for the School Board.
If the GOP's first screening didn't catch it, then maybe the second one did. At least they're trying. Democrats ran a known sex offender and kept him in the White House for 8 years while he continued his illicit pursuits. I don't seen any of the Democrats having 'high moral ground' on this one.
All you can complain about is somebody who "almost" was on the ballot? PULEEEZE!
For the sake of our kids, let's talk about the people who actually are running, ok?
It's a non story, people
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 19:34 — freedom12Folks, give me a break, and Percy, you're nasty. This is a totally irrelevant story. I know Jerry and he is nothing but a stand-up guy. Some total scumbag, either from the Democratic Party, or someone who wanted to make the GOP look bad, dug up this non issue from a gazillion years ago and fed it to the N&O who ran with it (shame, shame!). Jerry's wife does have some health problems and that was the legitimate reason for him stepping down. He did not deliberately lie to the Wake GOP - he was not guilty of anything and it has always been a non issue in his professional career and previous community involvement when he lived in Fla. He had already stepped down when the N&O approached him and asked him about this "past" issue.
A National Sex Scandal
Wed, 08/05/2009 - 07:49 — rainforestIf you google under John and Kathy Willets you will see that this case received National media attention as well as extensive coverage in Florida!!
This is no small thing. Gerald Ballan still holds a position in the Republican Party???
A non issue ....to YOU
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 19:58 — thegloveIt may be an non-issue in your mind, but others may feel differently. And, it wasn't a "gazillion years ago," it was 18 years ago when he was probably in his 40s or 50s and his character should have been fully developed.
It may indeed be a non-issue under many circumstances, however, moral character is an an issue when someone asks voters to put them into a position that allows them to make decisions that will impact children.
Finally, no one can make the GOP look bad unless there is someting for them to look bad about. At the very least, their candidate vetting process needs work.
Politicians
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 18:38 — Frederick777Republican, Democrat, doesn't really matter, they are all the same. They are little more than legalized crooks and they are all in the same boat bobbing around looking for a way to get over on the working people.
What can you expect from
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 17:26 — MorrisVMorrisWhat can you expect from Republicans
That's a pretty stupid statement...
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 19:54 — thegloveThat is really an incredibly stupid statement to make as there are so many examples of Democrats behaving badly to respond back with, such as Clinton getting "pleased" by Monica in the WH, Barney Frank having a prostitution ring run out of his townhouse by his boyfriend, former KKK member Senator Byrd of WV calling folks the "n" word, and 'ol Teddy driving drunk and killing a young woman.
Saying your party -- whatever your party -- is pure is a fools game.
So, someone lied on an application...shocking!
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 15:47 — thegloveWake GOP Chairman Claude Pope STATED: "In our candidate vetting process, we ask if there is anything in your past that would preclude you from running. He had nothing on the questionaire about that. Nor did everyone else for that matter."
Jeepers, what is this world coming to" Could it be that someone seeking an elected position actually lied? I wonder if it ever occurred to Mr. Pope, that not everyone is truthful when filling out those questionnaires. Isn't it his job to ensure the Republican Party is well represented in elections and to take some precautions against endorsing someone who would cause this type of embarrassment? Actually, it is not just Claude Pope's fault, the entire Wake County Republican Party executive committee needs to answer to this...they all voted to endorse Ballan, who, even without consideration of this latest news, was unqualified to be on the Wake BOE. Obviously, they should have done some checking around.
I wonder what the new NC Republican Party chair, Tom Fetzer, thinks about this error in judgment and responsibility. (I am a proud Republican, but we need more competent and responsible leadership in Wake County.)
BTW, Ballan is also a Vice Chairman in the Wake County Republican Party...for now at least.
Ballan said all he did was to send in a business card to the bordello. I doubt that is against the law, so why did he need immunity? Golly, do you think he may have lied about that too?
You seem to have the inside scoop...
Wed, 08/05/2009 - 19:40 — concerned2You seem to have a lot of information about everything the local GOP is doing and thinking. Are you part of the executive board? You'd have to be to have any credibility behind some of the statements you make.
But, it's odd because you seem to have a beef against everyone else on the board and particularly Claude Pope. I don't know him, but it seems he's at least trying to do something positive for the kids of Wake County. I remember he was the only one I saw standing up when Wake Co. wanted all our kids to attend class on Memorial Day.
So, you're either the only "competent" one in GOP leadership, or you're just a wannabe who has taken offense to being excluded from something.
If it's the latter, then everything you say carries no weight.
I'd be interested to know just where you're coming from - if you care to respond...
Speaking of the GOP I
Wed, 08/05/2009 - 22:29 — D2DadSpeaking of the GOP I thought they endorsed C.Tedesco in District 2. Why is a prominent Republican like Nelson Dollar running Horace Tart's campaign when he stands for everything the republican party is against?
WTF??? Nelson Dollar is a
Thu, 08/06/2009 - 07:46 — CaryCurmudgeonWTF??? Nelson Dollar is a WSCA supporter, why would he run the campaign of a WSCA opponent?
Hmmm...
Thu, 08/06/2009 - 09:27 — supportwcpssWhy does WSCA have opponents (or enemies)? You have people you support.
Sounds like you are ready for battle Joe.
Well, that is certainly one
Thu, 08/06/2009 - 09:59 — CaryCurmudgeonWell, that is certainly one of the stupider questions you have posted.
And yes, I'm ready for battle.
So you were in the closed Door Session?
Wed, 08/05/2009 - 19:27 — Jeff_morseI see you changed you handle from Designman!
"(I am a proud Republican, but we need more competent and responsible leadership in Wake County.)"
Like You? Such a sad LITTLE MAN!!! Many people have always felt sorry for you. Now not so much. Good luck on that political consultant Career!
?
Wed, 08/05/2009 - 22:41 — designmanHey, man, don't bring me into your fantasy...and have that paranoia checked out.
We are living in an age,
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 15:05 — henryeWe are living in an age, where you can not take any person at face value, without a doubt the Republicans would not have endorsed any one with the slightest hint of anything in their past
But no party has a clean record against supporting Candidates
who, have a past just look at every thing that has happened these last few years in paticular
True 'dat!
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 19:56 — thegloveIn Ballan's case, he was clearly not qualified to sit on a BOE, but he was being rewarded for past service and financial contributions to the party. Pope should have never let the Republican endorsement happen, it is a rather big mistake considering this is the first set of elections that Pope is overseeing as chair of the Wake County Republican Party. His, and his executive committee's, continued stature in the party may be in jeopardy.
I actually feel a bit sorry for Ballan, as his aledgedly enormous ego put him into a position where his past transgressions have now come to light. It's sad that a man's reputation is defined by the worst things he has ever done. I am not sure his interest in prostitutes rises to the level of the offensives that we have seen among Obama's appointees and friends who have been involved in everything from domestic terrorism to tax fraud and evasion, the but moral stature required to be voted into a school board seat seems lacking in someone who chose to consort with prostitutes.
ah yes, traditional family
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 14:19 — jugbandah yes, traditional family values.
Nelson $ just sealed his political fate
Thu, 08/06/2009 - 12:40 — g88ky07by agreeing to run the campaign of the Horace Tart!
....what's wrong with my wife........."
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 13:06 — PercyKution".......they still have not been able to determine what's wrong with my wife". hahahahaha Have they checked her for whatever YOU brought home from the whorehouse and gave her? What kind of FOOL are you?
Percy: Nice one!
Tue, 08/04/2009 - 17:12 — TheLibertinePercy: Nice one!