|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|||||||||
|
Editorial - December 2003 |
|||||||||
|
Ballenger earned public trust during nine terms |
|||||||||
|
Published December 3, 2003 |
|||||||||
|
U.S. Rep. Cass Ballenger of Hickory made a difficult but practical decision when he announced his retirement on Tuesday. Ballenger, Lincoln County’s representative in the U. S. House, will retire rather than seek re-election to a 10th term. He also represents Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Mitchell and parts of Gaston, Rutherford and Iredell counties. Ballenger made the announcement Tuesday morning on a Hickory radio station, saying he would step down after 37 years of public service, including Congress and state and local offices. Ballenger, first elected to the House in 1986, has never had any trouble winning re-election, and his voting record usually reflects the views of his constituency. Any opponent would have a difficult time defeating him, but he did appear more vulnerable this time around. He had some negative feedback recently when he blamed the break-up of his 50 year marriage on an American Muslim group with headquarters near his home in Washington. And he complained that his wife was unhappy with the decline in social functions on Capitol Hill because of GOP bans on lobbyist entertainment and meals. One of the biggest issues in the 10th District has been the meltdown of manufacturing jobs. Many blame Congress for trade policies that allowed the flow of cheap foreign goods into the country. George Moretz, a former Ballenger ally and donor, has already said he will seek the seat in the Republican primary. Moretz, board chairman of Carolina Mills, said his candidacy stems from layoffs in textiles and other traditional North Carolina manufacturing industries. Sen. Austin Allran of Hickory is also considering the race, and the name of Lincolnton’s own Johnathan Rhyne also arises in speculative lists of candidates. Ballenger’s age has to be a consideration. He appears to be in good health, but is now in his late 70s. He can step down with the knowledge that his constituents have found him to be a worthy public servant over nearly two decades. We congratulate him for a performance that has earned the trust of voters for many years.
|
|||||||||
|
© 2001 Lincoln Times-News |
|||||||||
|
Terms and Conditions |
|||||||||
|
|