NY-19: Greg Ball Accused of Campaign Finance Violations

by: jmcbride

Sat Oct 03, 2009 at 12:15:02 PM EDT

It seems that Greg Ball just is unable to keep from cheating. In Mr. Ball's world, the rules just don't apply to him. Poughkeepsie Journal

The complaint alleges the Mr. Ball directly or through a failure to supervise his staff has violated numerous campaign finance laws. Mr. Ball solicited and accepted campaign contributions from corporations. He solicited funds in excess of the contribution limits. He did a round of robo-calls (don't you love getting those?), without announcing who paid for the calls or approved the message, also a violation of campaign finance laws.

There's more

The Kennedys paid for Greg Ball's health care

by: cliffweathers

Sun Aug 30, 2009 at 13:20:39 PM EDT

From the article in Hindu Business Line a publication in India:

Ball narrates an incident from his childhood that sowed the seeds for his passion. "My godmother was personal secretary to Joseph Kennedy, the father of Jack Kennedy. As an infant I had cat-scratch fever, and Jean Kennedy- Smith, Jack Kennedy's sister, asked my parents to take me to a hospital. When my parents said they couldn't afford it, she said she would take care of everything. And, within five minutes, there were 10 doctors around me. I think those little interactions that I had as a kid with that family in particular showed me how well power could be used."

He feels that people should use their abilities to impact others positively, because there is both good and evil in this world. "Evil exists, and we have to fight it at every turn."

AD-99: Getting Ball's Goat

by: phillip anderson

Fri Mar 06, 2009 at 16:46:00 PM EST

Ball refuses to be intimidated by dead goat

Photo from Ball's office.

State Assemblyman Greg Ball, R-Patterson, said this afternoon that he won't be intimidated because someone dumped a dead goat outside his Putnam Lake home Wednesday night.

State police are investigating but declined to release much information, citing the open case.

"Whether this crime was perpetrated by gang members, or some sick local individual, I will not be cowed by threats, and I condemn this kind of heinous violent behavior towards animals," Ball said. "I want my constituents to know that I will continue my efforts to stand up every day for justice, and the people of the Hudson Valley."

A note written on cardboard in a combination of Spanish and English was tied around the goat's neck. The sign made reference to Ball and was signed MS-13, which Ball said refers to Mara Salvatrucha, a notorious Central American gang that he says is operating in the Village of Brewster, even though police have never found credible evidence of the gang.

Am I the only one who's Morton Downey Jr bells are ringing off the hook here? Given Assemblyman Ball's history (see here as well), color me a bit suspicious. First, would a Latino street gang even know who Greg Ball was? If so, would they feel threatened by him? Ball has made stoking anti immigrant anger a cornerstone of his political career, but would a criminal street gang like MS-13 have even noticed? Would they even care of they did? Would they go so far as to try to intimidate him by dumping a dead goat at his house? Would they even know where he lived? Would the "threat" be in "broken Spanish" or a language Ball could actually read? Does any of this sound plausible to you?

I'm sorry, this just smells really bad. I sincerely hope I am wrong about this, but this whole thing looks like a rather lame inside job, a pathetic attempt to gain sympathy and anti-immigrant cred as he gears up to make a run against John Hall in NY-19.

I, for one, just ain't buying it.

A Republican challenge to the stopped clock

by: simonstl

Wed May 28, 2008 at 08:16:47 AM EDT

He's certainly memorable, but will first-term Republican Assemblyman Greg Ball be around in the future?

Not if the Putnam County GOP has anything to do with it, and a note at the bottom of that story says that the Westchester GOP "put off" endorsing him too.

Ball is probably best-liked here for his stand on the Comptroller selection process, and disliked for, well, most everything else he says. But even a stopped clock is correct occasionally, as I think he demonstrated last February.

So is it the GOP machine's revenge on an upstart? Or is Ball just too red even for his red district? Or is it just personality?

[Via CapCon].

Hudson Valley Community Coalition - Open Letter

by: jmcbride

Fri Apr 18, 2008 at 15:01:57 PM EDT

We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, oppose any efforts to enlist state and local police authorities in the enforcement of federal civil immigration laws.  We believe such actions will undermine trust and cooperation between police and the communities they are sworn to protect, divert law enforcement resources away from far-more-important policing activities, lead to costly mistakes and civil rights violations, and make us all less safe.  

Here in New York, the idea of deputizing state and local police as immigration agents is being promoted by State Assemblyman Greg Ball (R-Carmel), who is convening a meeting with local law enforcement officials and anti-immigrant groups to sell the idea on April 19th.  Mr. Ball is calling on local law enforcement agencies to enter into agreements with the Department of Homeland Security under section 287(g) of immigration law, authorizing police to carry out the functions of federal immigration officers, at local expense.  

Enlisting state and local police to enforce federal civil immigration laws is bad public policy for many reasons:  

• Undermines community policing efforts.  Police depend on relationships with and cooperation from the entire community.  People will be less likely to go to the police if they fear that they or their family members could end up being deported.  Victims of domestic violence will hesitate to report their abusers.  If crime victims or witnesses are fearful of approaching the police or reporting suspicious behavior, the entire community is less safe.  

• Diverts resources away from fighting crime.  Checking immigration documents and holding suspected undocumented immigrants who have committed no crime diverts law enforcement resources away from responding to 911 calls and investigating real crimes.  Our police should be focused on the real criminals who prey on communities, not on immigrants who are simply working to support their families.  

• Results in serious mistakes and civil rights violations.  Determining whether someone has violated immigration laws or regulations is not a simple matter.  Enlisting police to enforce complex immigration laws is likely to lead to increased racial profiling and civil rights violations, as well as mistakes, all of which can expose state and local governments to lawsuits and expensive judgments and settlements.  

• Shifts federal responsibilities and expenses to local government.  The federal government provides no new funds or reimbursement to towns and cities that take on immigration law enforcement.  In an era of tight budgets, the last thing we need is to be doing the job of the federal government at our own expense.  Congress needs to fix the broken immigration system, not shift responsibility to local municipalities.

The 287(g) agreements do nothing to help us fight crime.  State and local police already have the authority to arrest and detain immigrants who are involved in criminal activities and to call federal immigration agents.  They do so every day.  The 287(g) agreements, however, go far beyond criminal enforcement, authorizing state and local police to go after immigrants who pose no criminal threat.  Such efforts would only push immigrant workers and families further underground, making them easy targets of crime.  

Like all Americans, we are concerned about public safety and security.  We want to protect our families and our communities from crime and terrorism.  We also understand that serious and comprehensive immigration reform is needed to resolve our country's immigration problems.  But having state and local police act as immigration agents will not solve these problems, and will only create a whole host of new problems.  We urge you to join us in opposing any efforts to involve state and local police in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.  Anti-immigrant politics must not be allowed to trump common sense.  

Sincerely,

See the list on the flip

NY-19: Greg Ball Is Out

by: phillip anderson

Mon Dec 31, 2007 at 15:08:02 PM EST

Freshman Assemblyman Greg Ball has announced that he will not challenge Freshman Rep. John Hall in next year's race for the 19th Congressional seat. At this point, it looks as if the GOP may be stuck with Kieran Michael Lalor's long shot run at the seat. Will the race for NY-19 be a snooze? It's sure starting to look that way.

Carmel assemblyman says he won't run for Congress in '08

Freshman state Assemblyman Greg Ball will run for re-election in 2008 and not for Congress, as he had speculated during the past few weeks.

Ball, who defeated longtime Republican Assemblyman Willis Stephens in a primary last year and then went on to best Democrat Ken Harper in the November election, wants another two-year term in Albany.

"A little over a year ago I was elected in a grassroots upset that sent a clear message to the good old boys in Albany and back home. Since my election victory, we have made extraordinary progress by elevating the debate on tough issues like taxes, illegal immigration and dysfunction in Albany. On all of these fronts, and more, we are making a substantial difference and I absolutely love being the assemblyman," said Ball, R-Carmel, in a statement.

Ball had considered running for New York's 19th Congressional District seat, which is currently held by U.S. Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains. He even traveled to Washington shortly before Christmas to meet with the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Ball didn't immediately return a telephone call seeking further comment.

So far, Kieran Michael Lalor of Peekskill is the only Republican to announce a bid against Hall.

I've always thought that Hall holds this seat no matter who the GOP decided to run. Now his seat looks like a pretty solid keeper.

Note To the NRCC: Greg Ball is a Creative Self Financer

by: phillip anderson

Tue Dec 18, 2007 at 09:58:44 AM EST

Ken Spain from the National Republican Congressional Committee, in an e-mail today, said the committee "doesn't promise money to anyone." Spain was getting back to me on the issue of state Assemblyman Greg Ball, R-Carmel, contemplating a run for Congress. Ball, if you recall, is thinking of challenging Rep. John Hall, D-Dover Plains.

One factor that would figure in his decision, Ball had said, was a financial commitment from the NRCC. Spain said the committee has spoken with both Ball and Republican Kieran Michael Lalor of Peekskill about the race.

"The NRCC doesn't promise money to anyone," Spain wrote. "We make that decision as we draw closer to the election. We've talked with Ball as you know and think he would make a good candidate. We have talked with Lalor as well, but we do not pre-primary endorse."

I'd just like to remind the NRCC that Greg Ball is very creative when it comes to financing his campaigns and doing so in a way that most Congressional Republicans will love.

You may wonder how the neophyte freshman Assemblyman bankrolled his Assembly campaign and why he had so much support from out of state. Ball set up a charity to teach poor kids to play polo (No, really.) and a separate PAC focusing on issues in the district he was running in. He then sold tickets to a charity event attended by those who think teaching poor kids to play polo is an awesome idea. And that's where he displays the type of creativity that the NRCC should take note of.

Courage Cup: Ponying Up For Whose Charity?

But why did Ball, 29, now a busy freshman state assemblyman, even want to keep running a youthful charity party several hours from his home district? Perhaps because it helped him win his seat.

The Reliable Source found that a New York political action committee started by Ball -- which later transferred its entire treasury to his campaign -- netted as much as $10,000 by selling tickets to the 2005 Courage Cup. That's four times the amount the polo match raised that year for its prominently advertised beneficiary, Work to Ride, a Philadelphia charity that teaches poor kids to play polo.

It's unclear whether anything about the arrangement was improper. But it shocked several D.C. area Courage Cup ticket buyers, who said they had never heard of the group and were stunned to find their names in Ball's campaign finance records.

"I thought the money was going to kids," said Andrew McKenna."I'd be pretty [infuriated] if I found out this was for a political race."

...

We randomly contacted a dozen of these D.C. donors to ask why they gave to a New York state PAC. None could remember ever hearing of the group, let alone giving it money. But all, as it turned out, had bought tickets to the 2005 Courage Cup, held that year on June 18 in Poolesville, Md.

"I think it was billed as a fundraiser to get kids involved with polo," recalled Britt Jung, who was surprised to find herself listed as a $55 donor to CUEG -- an amount she thinks she spent on her Courage Cup ticket.

"I don't recall supporting him," said Eden Ellis, an acquaintance of Ball's who remembered hearing about his political aspirations but didn't know how $50 in her name ended up in CUEG's filings. "I think I would have remembered that."

...

According to New York state newspaper accounts at the time, Citizens United for Ethical Growth was founded in fall 2004 with Ball as its president. Its goals were to promote "smart growth" and regional planning in the small-town and suburban communities north of New York City, with special concern for traffic congestion on state Route 22. The following April, Ball announced he would run as a Republican for state assembly against a longtime incumbent. In December 2005, CUEG -- then described in its press releases as being led by a Dutchess County, N.Y., landscaper, Frank Chiera -- announced it was transferring its $18,000 in assets to Ball's campaign.

I guess what I'm trying to say, dear friends at the NRCC, is that Greg Ball is a go-getter and certainly worth another look...

Hall v. Ball?

by: phillip anderson

Wed Dec 05, 2007 at 09:14:36 AM EST

Greg Ball is just finishing his first year in the state Assembly but the Carmel Republican already seems to be considering a new job - U.S. Congressman.

Ball met today with Rockland Republican Chairman Vincent Reda, who is also a vice chairman of the state GOP, to discuss a possible campaign against Rep. John Hall, a freshman Democrat, in the 19th CD. Reda said the meeting came at Ball's request.

"I think he is one of the rising stars in the Republican Party," Reda told Politics on the Hudson this afternoon. "He is making the rounds, seeing all the county chairs."

The GOP has been searching for another candidate to take on Hall since its top recruit, Katonah businessman Andrew Saul, withdrew last month citing personal reasons. So far, the only Republican to formally enter the race is Kieran Michael Lalor, an Iraqi war veteran from Peekskill.

GOP leaders, however, have not rallied behind Lalor's candidacy and are continuing to search for alternatives. Reda said he hopes the party can settle on a candidate by early January.

It'll be interesting to see if Ball can actually raise some significant money. Unlike now departed candidate Andrew Saul, he'll actually have to raise money from others. The NRCC is in no position to be much help. Will republicans be willing to take a bet on a very young candidate with a only a year in the Assembly under his belt? Maybe.

A year ago, NY-19 looked to be an epic battle in 2008. Today? Not so much.

And poor Lalor. The response to his candidacy among local Republicans seems to be, shall we say, less than enthusiastic.

Mike Kaplowitz to Challenge Greg Ball?

by: phillip anderson

Wed Nov 28, 2007 at 09:36:01 AM EST

This is why I am particularly eager to propagate the rumors swirling in Westchester that Mike may make a run at Ball's Assembly seat next year. The Journal News adds this tidbit to a post about  Kaplowitz replacing Mount Vernon Mayor-elect Clinton Young's position of vice  chairman in the Westchester County Legislature:

The new post for Kaplowitz, however, may just be temporary. The buzz in the legislature this week has Kaplowitz challenging Assemblyman Greg Ball, a Republican, next fall.

Kaplowitz, who lost a bid to unseat state Sen. Vincent Leibell in 2006, sidestepped questions today about his political future, saying he wanted to get through the county's ongoing budget process before making any decisions.

"Everything is on the table," Kaplowitz added.

Nice. Do it, Mike. You know you want to...

Reform, right-wing-wingnut style

by: robinia

Tue Jun 12, 2007 at 11:03:50 AM EDT

Kieran Lalor: Clueless in the 19th

by: phillip anderson

Wed May 23, 2007 at 09:27:48 AM EDT

But the story contains a really choice quote from a challenger I hadn't heard of before, one Kieran Lalor, an Iraq War vet and Marine reservist. While I certainly appreciate and applaud Mr Lalor's patriotism and service to the country, I have serious doubts about his political instincts.

Lalor, a Marine Corps reservist whose law school studies were interrupted by the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and again in 2003 by a six-month stint in Iraq, said despite his financial disadvantage, his anti-abortion, pro-Iraq war platform make him more in tune with the district's voters than Hall or Saul.

"Andrew Saul is John Hall in a business suit," Lalor said. "He's wrong on the war, on national security, immigration, abortion. He's Sue Kelly all over again."

Lalor said support from veterans would help him restore the district to Republicans.

I spent a lot of time in the 19th last year and I think I can say with some degree of certainty that the residents and voters of the district aren't exactly big fans of the war. In fact, some of the most vigorous opponents of the war I met last year were the very veterans Mr. Lalor hopes will put him over the top.

More on the flip...