News

Officials, Media React to Audit

RALEIGH — Newspaper editorial writers across North Carolina and law enforcement officials reacted swiftly to a state auditor’s report Oct. 22 that confirmed U.S. Rep. Frank Ballance operated a personal and apparently political slush fund behind the facade of a nonprofit humanitarian organization. One newspaper called for Ballance to resign his Congressional seat, while others excoriated him for mismanagement, a lack of candor, or for "chiseling" the taxpayers. A federal investigation of Ballance is reportedly continuing.

Don Carrington
News

Who was John A. Hyman?

RALEIGH — When U.S. Rep. Frank Ballance and colleagues set up a nonprofit in 1985, they chose to name it after a controversial figure — John A. Hyman, North Carolina’s first black congressman. During his political career, Hyman was a strong civil-rights advocate but “his efforts were clouded by his involvement in frauds and payoffs of significant proportions,” according one historian. He was not renominated for Congress after a single term, and was later accused of embezzlement and convicted of assault.

Don Carrington
News

Hyman Foundation Leased Prison

RALEIGH — U.S. Rep. Frank Ballance, a Warren County Democrat and also chairman of the John A. Hyman Memorial Youth Foundation, helped the foundation obtain a lease on a 35-acre former prison site. The five-year lease for $1 per year has an option for the foundation to renew for another five years. It is dated May 25, 2001, and signed by Gov. Mike Easley and by Hyman Vice President Helen Ophelia of Rich Square. The foundation runs substance abuse programs. It has yet to use the property, which was originally going to be used by local residents for an animal shelter.

Don Carrington
News

Ballance’s Foundation Reprimanded

RALEIGH—The Administrative Office of the Courts announced last week that it is terminating the Warren County Drug Treatment Court program, which relies on the services of the John Hyman Foundation, an organization based in Warrenton and chaired by U. S. Rep. Frank Ballance, D-1st. In addition, last week the state Division of Mental Health reprimanded the Hyman Foundation for violations of state law and “a pattern of noncompliance” with the foundation’s DWI program.

Don Carrington
News

Questions Plague State-Funded Group

RALEIGH — The director of a Warren County nonprofit substance abuse program that has received at least $1.8 million from state taxpayers has refused repeated requests to turn over public financial records as required by law. An investigation by Carolina Journal indicates that the records probably don’t exist. Another newspaper reported that it also was unable to obtain financial records of the John A. Hyman Memorial Youth Foundation and that the organization doesn’t appear to be serving any clients.

Don Carrington

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