Meet Patrick J. Ballantine
Patrick Ballantine served 10 years in the North Carolina State Senate, winning all 5 general elections with over 65% of the popular vote. He was first elected in 1994 and quickly rose through the ranks, being elected the Senate Republican Leader in 1998 and re-elected unanimously in 2000 and 2002. Under his leadership, the number of Republican Senators in the 50 Member State Senate increased from 11 to 22.
In the Senate, Ballantine regularly faced off with a Democratic Governor whose tax and spend policies were often at odds with his conservative principles. Ballantine was often on radio and television advocating his positions. Ballantine always stood up for North Carolina taxpayers. He introduced bills to repeal the capital gains tax, repeal the intangibles tax, repeal the food tax, and lower other taxes to create jobs and help businesses grow and prosper. |
Ballantine also co-sponsored tort reform legislation that would help to provide quality, affordable health care for all North Carolinians. He sponsored regulatory reform and welfare-to-work legislation. Ballantine called for a restructuring of state government which had become bloated, non-responsive, and inefficient. He was a champion for small businesses and at the same time won environmental awards for his stewardship. Further, Ballantine established and chaired a statewide committee of diabetes stakeholders to develop a national legislative model to protect and support children with diabetes in schools.
For his Coastal Senate District, Ballantine's legislative accomplishments were numerous. Ballantine was instrumental in creating a Regional Airport Authority, established the sea turtle license plate program to sustain the largest sea turtle hospital on the Atlantic Seaboard, ensured that both shipping ports were adequately funded and channels deepened and widened, was a lead sponsor for funding of the major expansions for all of the NC Aquariums, championed the Clean Water Management Trust Fund (which was used to purchase the magnificent Airlie Gardens property for public enjoyment), led the charge to repeal the post-production sales tax (which jump-started small niche businesses and was a boon for the NC Film Industry), and fought for the creation of Historic Preservation tax credits.
Ballantine has never been afraid to fight for what he believes in. He will always be remembered for his courageous battle to fight the legislative districts that "looked like bugs splattered on a windshield". Though the Democrats' gerrymandering had virtually assured him of re-election, Ballantine stood up for his beliefs and challenged the districts, even if it meant a much tougher district for him personally. The legal battle he helped win in the Supreme Court was a victory for the constitution and the voters. Ballantine was often quoted saying, "voters can now elect their legislators rather than legislators selecting their voters." His senate redistricting map kept 86 of North Carolina's 100 Counties whole, overturning the State Democratic map which divided 51 counties. As a Senator, Ballantine had many distinctions. North Carolina Taxpayers United, a non-partisan watchdog group that monitors tax and spend legislation, named Ballantine the "Taxpayers' Best Friend." Citizens for a Sound Economy gave him a "Perfect 100" score, and Senator Ballantine had the 2nd highest business ranking from NCFREE (North Carolina Forum for Research and Economic Education). Ballantine was also published in the Wake Forest Law Review for a compelling article advocating regulatory reform.
Ballantine voluntarily resigned his Senate seat in April 2004 to run for Governor of North Carolina. Sen. Ballantine challenged several qualified candidates and won the Primary Election in late July 2004 to become the Republican Nominee for Governor. In a hard-fought campaign that took Senator Ballantine to all 100 counties, he lost the election to the incumbent Governor Mike Easley. With a valiant effort, he received almost 1.5 million votes, more than any other Republican candidate for Governor in North Carolina's history at that time.
Ballantine is an attorney licensed to practice in State Court, Federal Court and the United States Supreme Court. Ballantine graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA in Political Science, and he received his law degree from the University of Dayton, where he was bestowed with The Order of Barristers. Ballantine is an entrepreneur having built many successful businesses. He also founded Ballantine Company, Inc., a public affairs firm specializing in government relations. He and his lovely wife Lisa have a daughter and son. They live in Wilmington and are active members of St. Andrews-on-the-Sound Episcopal Church.
For his Coastal Senate District, Ballantine's legislative accomplishments were numerous. Ballantine was instrumental in creating a Regional Airport Authority, established the sea turtle license plate program to sustain the largest sea turtle hospital on the Atlantic Seaboard, ensured that both shipping ports were adequately funded and channels deepened and widened, was a lead sponsor for funding of the major expansions for all of the NC Aquariums, championed the Clean Water Management Trust Fund (which was used to purchase the magnificent Airlie Gardens property for public enjoyment), led the charge to repeal the post-production sales tax (which jump-started small niche businesses and was a boon for the NC Film Industry), and fought for the creation of Historic Preservation tax credits.
Ballantine has never been afraid to fight for what he believes in. He will always be remembered for his courageous battle to fight the legislative districts that "looked like bugs splattered on a windshield". Though the Democrats' gerrymandering had virtually assured him of re-election, Ballantine stood up for his beliefs and challenged the districts, even if it meant a much tougher district for him personally. The legal battle he helped win in the Supreme Court was a victory for the constitution and the voters. Ballantine was often quoted saying, "voters can now elect their legislators rather than legislators selecting their voters." His senate redistricting map kept 86 of North Carolina's 100 Counties whole, overturning the State Democratic map which divided 51 counties. As a Senator, Ballantine had many distinctions. North Carolina Taxpayers United, a non-partisan watchdog group that monitors tax and spend legislation, named Ballantine the "Taxpayers' Best Friend." Citizens for a Sound Economy gave him a "Perfect 100" score, and Senator Ballantine had the 2nd highest business ranking from NCFREE (North Carolina Forum for Research and Economic Education). Ballantine was also published in the Wake Forest Law Review for a compelling article advocating regulatory reform.
Ballantine voluntarily resigned his Senate seat in April 2004 to run for Governor of North Carolina. Sen. Ballantine challenged several qualified candidates and won the Primary Election in late July 2004 to become the Republican Nominee for Governor. In a hard-fought campaign that took Senator Ballantine to all 100 counties, he lost the election to the incumbent Governor Mike Easley. With a valiant effort, he received almost 1.5 million votes, more than any other Republican candidate for Governor in North Carolina's history at that time.
Ballantine is an attorney licensed to practice in State Court, Federal Court and the United States Supreme Court. Ballantine graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a BA in Political Science, and he received his law degree from the University of Dayton, where he was bestowed with The Order of Barristers. Ballantine is an entrepreneur having built many successful businesses. He also founded Ballantine Company, Inc., a public affairs firm specializing in government relations. He and his lovely wife Lisa have a daughter and son. They live in Wilmington and are active members of St. Andrews-on-the-Sound Episcopal Church.