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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

College Used to Aid Campaign

RALEIGH—Halifax Community College President Ted Gasper used state government resources to raise money for the congressional campaign of Rep. Frank Ballance of Warrenton, a transcript of telephone conversations shows. Documents also show that Gasper and others also planned to funnel corporate contributions though the Alice Eason Ballance Education and Justice Foundation, a nonprofit organization that Ballance, a Democrat, set up in October 2001, a few months before he filed to run for the U.S. House. Corporate contributions to political campaigns are illegal in North Carolina, according to campaign finance laws.

Don Carrington
News

Investigation of Ballance Intensifies

RALEIGH — A few months after being sworn in to Congress, Rep. Frank W. Ballance, Jr. (D-1st District) is trying to answer questions about accounting procedures of a nonprofit foundation of which he is the chairman. The foundation failed until recently to file financial statements required by the state and the Internal Revenue Service. The State Auditor and the IRS are investigating the organization and its substance-abuse program. In addition, the State Board of Elections is investigating Ballance for his failure to respond to requests that he explain discrepancies on his 1999 and 2000 Financial Disclosure Reports.

Don Carrington

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