THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 4, 1995 TAG: 9506040041
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY MASON PETERS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PLYMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 90 lines
Predicted shouting matches never materialized Saturday when nearly 400 1st District Democrats elected state Sen. Frank W. Ballance Jr. party chairman, demonstrating the political clout Ballance shares with Rep. Eva M. Clayton in the 28-county voting area.
Ballance, a Warren County attorney, beat incumbent district Chairman Isaac A. ``Ike'' Battle, of Gates County, 239 to 139 in an unexpectedly placid Democratic convention at Plymouth High School in Washington County.
For weeks, 1st District Democrats had been anticipating an aisle-crowding showdown between Battle and Ballance for the chairmanship.
Behind the scenes was the maneuvering of many old-guard Democrats in eastern North Carolina who felt the concentrated power of Rep. Clayton and state Sen. Ballance in Warren County made the 1st Congressional District politically top-heavy. The voting enclave stretches through 28 counties from Warren County on the Virginia border to South Carolina.
Ballance managed the two successful election campaigns that made Clayton the first black and the first woman to go to the U.S. House from North Carolina in this century.
``That concentrated influence is one of the main reasons why I'm running against Sen. Ballance,'' Battle said before the voting.
But efforts to keep Clayton and Ballance out of focus while Battle consolidated his supporters within the county delegations failed.
Battle, a retired school principal, did not have Clayton's name on the convention agenda as a speaker.
``Mrs. Clayton is the 1st District,'' Ballance commented earlier when he was notified that the congresswoman was not among the listed convention speakers.
As it turned out, Clayton's presence was quickly felt when she and Ballance arrived after a downpour delayed the scheduled 9:30 a.m. start of the meeting by nearly an hour.
Then Battle had no choice but to recognize the congresswoman when she sailed down an aisle of the school gymnasium where the convention was held and sat down directly in front of Battle's podium.
Clayton stole the show with comments about ``friendly differences'' among the delegates and a reminder that ``what is more important is Democratic unity'' in next year's elections.
``We don't need to find reasons to fight with each other,'' she said. ``I beg of you, stand your ground and unite.''
Thereafter, the fight for the district chairmanship was no contest. Initial voting from rural counties seemed to favor Battle, but Ballance's campaigning in the large urban delegations quickly brought results.
Halfway through the voting roll call of the 28-counties, it was clear that Ballance was the new chairman.
``I extend to Sen. Ballance my congratulations and support,'' Battle said later.
``Now we are all friends again and moving forward together,'' said Ballance.
Clayton went to Washington after the General Assembly in 1992 redrew the state's congressional districts to create two predominantly African-American election enclaves under U.S. Voting Rights Act guidelines.
Ballance's election meant that Clayton's skillful campaign director should be able to assure Clayton of a comfortable tenure in the U.S. House for as long as she wants it. It also will remind Ballance that many of his Democratic supporters expect him to be Clayton's successor when the congresswoman steps down.
The election of Ballance was clearly a setback for other politically ambitious blacks who have a hankering to run for Congress in the favorable 1st District.
The convention quickly elected supporting officers to help Ballance crack the 1st District whip.
Joyce Cutler, of Beaufort County, was elected 1st vice chair of the district. She is a highly regarded hospital administrator who has the respect of many of the older Democrats who once supported the late Rep. Walter B. Jones Sr., when the former 1st District was Jones' conservative white fiefdom.
Rev. John H. London, of Perquimans County, was named second vice chairman, and Jeff W. Savage, a Pitt County commissioner, was elected third vice chairman.
Robert Beatty, a Cumberland County Democrat who is still going strong at 84, was named treasurer, and Terry Riddick, the incumbent party secretary, was re-elected by acclamation. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Frank W. Ballance Jr. is the new chairman of the 1st District
Democratic Party.
by CNB