Patrick J. Ballantine
Encyclopedia
Patrick J. Ballantine an attorney from Wilmington, North Carolina
, was a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly
, rising to become the Senate Minority Leader and the Republican Party's nominee for Governor
in 2004.
Ballantine was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota
and moved to North Carolina as a child. He graduated from Cape Fear Academy
in Wilmington, North Carolina
in 1983 and earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
in 1987. Ballantine earned a Juris Doctor
(J.D.) degree from the University of Dayton
in 1990 and married Lisa Beard on 10 August 1991; they have two children. In 1994, Ballantine became a member of the North Carolina Senate; starting in 1999, he served as the Republican minority leader. He originally represented the state's fourth Senate district, focussed on New Hanover
county, where he resides in Wilmington
. In the redistricting
that followed the 2000 census
, his district became the ninth.
Patrick Ballantine emerged as one of the leading candidates for the Republican gubernatorial nomination to challenge Governor Mike Easley
in the 2004 election
, although he faced heated competition for the nomination from former Charlotte
mayor Richard Vinroot
and former Congressman Bill Cobey
. In July, both Ballantine and Vinroot received 30% of the vote in a six-way Republican primary, with Ballantine edging out Vinroot by only 1,500 votes statewide. Under North Carolina law, Vinroot could have chosen to seek a runoff; however, he elected not to exercise that option, leaving Ballantine the Republican nominee.
Ballantine stepped down from his General Assembly seat in April in order to focus on his run for governor. His law partner Woody White was appointed to fill his Senate seat, but was defeated in the general election by Democrat Julia Boseman
.
Ballantine's campaign focused on his youth, optimism, and vision, offering what he referred to as "A New Generation of Conservative
Leadership" for North Carolina; however, Easley's campaign focused on Ballatine's Senate voting record. Ballantine was bested by Easley, the incumbent, by a thirteen-point margin in the November 2004 general election
.
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
, was a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
, rising to become the Senate Minority Leader and the Republican Party's nominee for Governor
Governor of North Carolina
The Governor of North Carolina is the chief executive of the State of North Carolina, one of the U.S. states. The current governor is Bev Perdue, North Carolina's first female governor.-Powers:...
in 2004.
Ballantine was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
and moved to North Carolina as a child. He graduated from Cape Fear Academy
Cape Fear Academy
Cape Fear Academy is a coeducational day school with 630 students and is a non-profit organization unaffiliated with any other institution, group, or church. Cape Fear Academy strives to be "a learning community sharing a commitment to respect, integrity, academic excellence, and service to...
in Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
in 1983 and earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
in 1987. Ballantine earned a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
(J.D.) degree from the University of Dayton
University of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
in 1990 and married Lisa Beard on 10 August 1991; they have two children. In 1994, Ballantine became a member of the North Carolina Senate; starting in 1999, he served as the Republican minority leader. He originally represented the state's fourth Senate district, focussed on New Hanover
New Hanover County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 160,307 people, 68,183 households, and 41,591 families residing in the county. The population density was 806 people per square mile . There were 79,616 housing units at an average density of 400 per square mile...
county, where he resides in Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
. In the redistricting
Redistricting
Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...
that followed the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, his district became the ninth.
Patrick Ballantine emerged as one of the leading candidates for the Republican gubernatorial nomination to challenge Governor Mike Easley
Mike Easley
Michael Francis "Mike" Easley is an American politician who served as the 72nd Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina, from 2001 to 2009. He is member of the North Carolina Democratic Party and became the first North Carolina governor to admit to a felony in a deal that halted a lengthy...
in the 2004 election
North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2004
The North Carolina gubernatorial election of 2004 was held on 2 November 2004. The general election was fought between the and the Democrat incumbent Mike Easley and the Republican nominee Patrick J. Ballantine. Easley won by 52% to 46%, winning his second term as...
, although he faced heated competition for the nomination from former Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
mayor Richard Vinroot
Richard Vinroot
Richard A. Vinroot is a Republican political figure and attorney from Charlotte, North Carolina. He served as the 52nd Mayor of the City of Charlotte from 1991–1995, and ran unsuccessfully for Governor of North Carolina in 1996, 2000, and 2004.-Early life:The son of a Swedish immigrant, Richard...
and former Congressman Bill Cobey
Bill Cobey
William Wilfred Cobey, Jr. is a former one-term Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina....
. In July, both Ballantine and Vinroot received 30% of the vote in a six-way Republican primary, with Ballantine edging out Vinroot by only 1,500 votes statewide. Under North Carolina law, Vinroot could have chosen to seek a runoff; however, he elected not to exercise that option, leaving Ballantine the Republican nominee.
Ballantine stepped down from his General Assembly seat in April in order to focus on his run for governor. His law partner Woody White was appointed to fill his Senate seat, but was defeated in the general election by Democrat Julia Boseman
Julia Boseman
Julia Boseman is an American politician and a former Democratic member of the North Carolina Senate. She represented the state's ninth Senate district, covering all of New Hanover County, from January 2005 to January 2011.-Early life and career:...
.
Ballantine's campaign focused on his youth, optimism, and vision, offering what he referred to as "A New Generation of Conservative
American conservatism
Conservatism in the United States has played an important role in American politics since the 1950s. Historian Gregory Schneider identifies several constants in American conservatism: respect for tradition, support of republicanism, preservation of "the rule of law and the Christian religion", and...
Leadership" for North Carolina; however, Easley's campaign focused on Ballatine's Senate voting record. Ballantine was bested by Easley, the incumbent, by a thirteen-point margin in the November 2004 general election
North Carolina gubernatorial election, 2004
The North Carolina gubernatorial election of 2004 was held on 2 November 2004. The general election was fought between the and the Democrat incumbent Mike Easley and the Republican nominee Patrick J. Ballantine. Easley won by 52% to 46%, winning his second term as...
.