Greg Ball (politician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Gregory R. Ball)
Greg Ball
Member of the New York State Senate
from the 40th district
In office
January 1, 2011 – December 31, 2014
Preceded byVincent Leibell
Succeeded byTerrence P. Murphy
ConstituencyPutnam County and parts of Westchester County
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 99th district
In office
January 1, 2007 – December 31, 2010
Preceded byWillis Stephens Jr.
Succeeded bySteve Katz
ConstituencyPutnam County, Westchester County, Dutchess County
Personal details
Born (1977-09-16) September 16, 1977 (age 46)
Pawling, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceFredericksburg, Texas
Alma materUnited States Air Force Academy (BS)
OccupationEntrepreneur
WebsiteOfficial website
Military service
Branch/service United States Air Force
Years of service2001–2009
RankCaptain

Gregory R. Ball (born September 16, 1977) is a former American politician from 2006 to 2014 (now a business executive[citation needed]), former active duty U.S. Air Force officer and member of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly. He is a resident of Fredericksburg, Texas.[citation needed]

Early career and background[edit]

Air Force Captain Greg Ball graduated from the United States Air Force Academy.[1]

Ball was born on September 16, 1977[2] in Pawling, New York, and grew up on Quaker Hill.[citation needed] In 1996, he was awarded the Falcon Foundation Scholarship and attended the Valley Forge Military Academy before receiving an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy. While at the United States Air Force Academy, Ball interned in the White House Drug Policy Office.[3]

At the Air Force Academy, Ball received a Bachelor of Science in Government in 2001. He started a Masters in International Affairs at Georgetown University in 2004 and was a fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency from 2002 to 2003.[4]

USAF service[edit]

Ball was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the United States Air Force and requested an assignment with the Air Force Academy's Diversity Recruitment Office, and was posted in Philadelphia for a one-year tour working as a Minority Admissions Officer. Ball was then assigned to the 11th Wing at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., as protocol officer. The Ceremonies & Protocol office was responsible for planning, organizing and developing projects for the Secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force Chief of Staff, as well as coordinating honor guard burial services at Arlington National Cemetery.[1][5]

During his time in the Ceremonies & Protocol Office, Ball was a Project Officer for numerous events. The largest may have been the 2003 Global Air Chief's Conference, the first since 1997, for which he rented a cruise ship for a welcome reception in Washington, D.C., for dignitaries attending the Global Air Chiefs Conference.[6]

As a lieutenant, Ball was charged with directing National Hispanic Heritage Month in 2002, 2003, and 2004. He organized exhibits and demonstrations to recognize the contributions made by Hispanic countries and cultures, and hosted Alberto Gonzales, then White House Counsel, in 2003. In 2003, Ball was nominated as "Military Volunteer of the Year" for the 11th Wing. He was awarded an Air Force Achievement Medal for outstanding service by General John P. Jumper and was honorably discharged from active duty in January 2005, with the rank of captain.

Business career[edit]

Upon his separation from active duty, Ball was recruited by the Antioch, Illinois, based Exceed International, a commercial development corporation with a presence in India, Turkey and Tunisia.[7] Placed in charge of the marketing department, he served as a team member with the Company President on a 38-company executive mission to an economic summit in New Delhi, which included representatives from companies such as Amex, Cargill, New York Life, Dow Chemical, General Electric, Bechtel, and Cognizant.[8] Later, Exceed invested $11.1 million in India to expand operations.[9] Construction began on six projects in Chennai, which included the ESPEE IT Park, and the Bascon Technology Park, which helped Exceed establish a foothold in India.[10][11] The company also invested as a joint venture partner in mixed use residential projects such as a water treatment facility.[12]

Eventually, Ball was elevated to Vice President of Exceed's Northeastern United States division and returned to New York.[13] The Illinois based developer employs nearly 400 people in various fields such as project management, development, architecture, engineering, construction, government relations, finance, and technology.[14][15] In 2006, Exceed proposed a $75 million urban renewal project for the village of Brewster which would generate some $2 million a year in tax revenue for the town.[16] The village's Mayor noted that "All of the infrastructure work recently completed by defining our identity within the watershed has paid off. Brewster finds itself in a situation where people are eagerly interested in working with the village in partnership to see our village revitalized".[16]

Political career[edit]

In early 2005, Ball announced his candidacy for State Assembly as a Republican and stated he would attempt to unseat the incumbent Assemblyman Will Stephens in a primary.[17][18] Stephens' family had held the seat nearly continuously for eighty years: his grandfather, D. Mallory Stephens, represented the district from 1926 to 1952; his father, Willis Stephens Sr., held the seat from 1952 to 1982; and Stephens himself served from 1994 to 2006.[19] Ball received over $110,000 in campaign contributions for the race.[20][21] He was placed on the primary ballot by the signature of over 1800 petitioners.[22][23]

In 2004, while living in D.C., Ball created a charity polo event for underprivileged youth known as the Courage Cup, which presented $10,000 to charities in 2005.[24] The Courage Cup was also investigated by the Washington Post after allegations that Ball was diverting funds from the charity to his political campaigns. The Poughkeepsie Journal noted that Ball's political action committee made a donation to the Courage Cup charity for the use of the tent at the event. The group then solicited funds for Ball in the tent, an activity the assemblyman said was "perfectly legal and above-board.".[25]

At times Ball's campaign was noted for its unorthodoxy. Ball himself dressed up in a chicken suit and followed around Stephens after the incumbent refused to debate him.[26] On September 12, 2006, in the Republican Primary for New York's 99th District, Ball defeated Stephens in a landslide with 70.4% (5,165 votes) to 29.6% (2,176 votes) for Stephens, the lowest vote total for any incumbent running for reelection to the State Assembly that day.[27] Stephens drew criticism when he refused to repudiate a letter about challenger Greg Ball which falsely claimed Mr. Ball had received a dishonorable discharge from the United States Air Force.[28][29][30]

According to a 2006 interview, Ball's ultimate political ambition is to become the Governor of New York State.[7]

New York State Assembly (2007–2010)[edit]

Ball participates in the 2007 Pawling Veterans Day parade carrying the flag of the POW-MIA.

Ball has stated that "since my election victory, we have made extraordinary progress by elevating the debate on tough issues like taxes, illegal immigration and dysfunction in Albany."[31][32] He was sworn into office on January 8, 2007.[33][34] The first time Ball rose to speak in the Assembly chamber, he called the legislature "dysfunctional", and withstood boos from his colleagues.[35][36][37] The next day, Governor Spitzer called Ball to express support for his sentiments.[38][39]

Ball stated that "It was not easy getting up as the new guy and standing up to tell a group of people what they don't want to hear" but his speech became so popular that soon dozens of reporters began calling, he appeared on Fox News, excerpts from the floor speech popped up on numerous political blogs, his campaign web site received so many visits that its server crashed, and, a YouTube video of his remarks was ranked 80th among new videos the day it was uploaded.[40][41] Although the remarks were contentious, they echoed a fifty-six page study from the nonpartisan New York University School of Law's Brennan Center for Justice, which referred to the legislature as "the least deliberative and most dysfunctional in the nation".[42]

As ranking member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, Ball announced legislation expanding the eligibility for veterans to receive tax exemption benefits, including the exemption of real property owned by certain disabled veterans from property taxation. Ball authored the bill that created the tuition remission program for veterans, offering them free tuition at both SUNY and CUNY undergraduate and graduate institutions.[43][44] Governor Eliot Spitzer included the measure in his 2008 executive budget proposal, and the measure was kept funded in Governor David Paterson's version.[45]

According to The Journal News, one key to Ball's success was that his campaign identified the concern local voters cared most about: illegal immigration.[46] The New York Sun reported that Ball, who has called for some local prison and police officials to be trained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to help deport illegal immigrants, defines himself as a moderate on the immigration issue.[47] Ball made illegal immigration a focal point of his bid for office.[48] In October 2007, he strongly criticized Governor Spitzer's plan to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants.[49][50][51] He was at the forefront of the opposition to the plan, and his Statewide petition to stop it led to the Assembly Minority Conference's decision to sue the Governor to stop the plan.[52]

Former Governor Spitzer and Assemblyman Ball disagreed on a number of issues, but worked together on several reform packages.[53][54]
At his Pawling, New York, campaign headquarters, Assemblyman Ball and campaign volunteers gear up for his reelection bid in May 2008.[55]

Ball has worked to promote businesses that hire legal immigrant laborers, and has begun to create a database for usage on his campaign website.[56] His campaign headquarters in Pawling may have been targeted over the contentious issue, and was vandalized with swastikas in October 2006, although the person or persons responsible misspelled the word "Fascist" twice.[57][58] An oft-quoted line from his campaign literature was that "Illegal Immigration is Illegal".[59][60]

2008 election[edit]

Ball was referred to as "one of the rising stars in the Republican Party"[61] during speculation that he would run against freshman Congressman John Hall in 2008, although he later ruled out a challenge against Hall.[31][62][63] In early May 2008, John Degnan, the former Mayor of Brewster, New York, announced he would be mounting a challenge to the freshman Assemblyman.[64] In the September 9th, 2008 primary, Ball won the primary by a 3 to 1 margin amongst Republicans.[65][66][67] He again faced Degnan, who had the Democratic nomination, in the general election, and was re-elected with 60% of the vote.[68][69][70][71][72]

Feud with State Senator Vincent Leibell[edit]

In July 2010, State Senator Vincent Leibell blamed Ball for a raid of the Senator's home which was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.[73] The Senator was later arrested, tried, and convicted on several counts of Federal corruption charges.[74] Ball had often accused the Senator of using the office as his "personal piggy bank."[2] The feud between Leibell and Ball dated back to the 2008 election, when Ball first accused the Senator of orchestrating a "smear campaign" against him. [3]

On August 26, 2008, a local newspaper known as The Putnam Times published court documents surrounding the breakup between Ball and a Washington, D.C., woman in 2003. Ball blamed Leibell for hiring private investigators for the newspaper article, and for funding the campaign of his Democratic challenger, John Degnan.[75] Ball stated both he and the woman both filed for orders of protection following the end of their relationship. In November 2003, both Ball and the woman asked the court to dismiss their complaints against each other, which was done. Ball told The Daily News that "It was just a heartfelt breakup where both parties jointly requested a 'cooling off' period, and the entire matter was mutually dismissed. My life is an open book, and always has been."[76]

While The Putnam Times, a local paper incorrectly reported that Ball violated the order of protection by following the woman to Israel on July 20, News Channel 12, a regional network, pointed out that order of protection was filed six days earlier on July 14, and court records state Ball traveled to Israel on June 20.[77][78] The Poughkeepsie Journal also later pointed out that there was never a criminal restraining order, and the documents printed by the Times was actually a temporary order of protection, which anyone can request.[79]

Following the revelations that Ball's ex-girlfriend filed for an order of protection against him in 2003, on September 3, 2008, the Journal News reported that a former member of Ball's staff had accused him of sexually harassing her in a letter sent to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver detailing the incident.[80] Perrault's accusations were later found to be fabrications and Ball was exonerated.[81]

Initially, News 12 analyst Mike Edelman called the report "not credible," and many questioned the timing of the complaint, as the former staff member waited a year to write the letter until a few days before the primary election.[82][83] The previous day, Ball had released e-mails from his former Chief of Staff, which stated that Perreault was ready to "go forward with a lawsuit and 'embellish' some of the details," calling the letter to Silver into question.[84] Ball said the letter was part of a "smear campaign", and that the ex-Chief of Staff was a "mole" for State Senator Vincent Leibell, who was backing his primary opponent. Ball released a taped phone conversation between the ex-Chief of Staff and a local political candidate, where his former deputy stated he was working for "the senate" to "neuter" Ball.[85] Although at first, the ex-Chief of Staff denied working for the senate to The Journal News, the next day, he admitted it in another article, but Senator Leibell denied any conspiracy.[79]

The Assembly Ethics committee met in October 2008, reaching a 'not guilty' verdict[86][87] and ruling that no harassment ever occurred, and unanimously voted to throw out the charges against Assemblyman Ball.[88][89] The accuser, the 60-year-old Perrault, had been the target of numerous sexual harassment allegations at a prior job, where she was a supervisor.[90][91] It was noted that Ball's accuser had herself settled four lawsuits for an undisclosed sum, at least three of which accused her of sexual harassment.[92]

2010 election, notable votes[edit]

In May 2009, Ball announced he was a candidate for Congress in New York's 19th congressional district. Ball drew some attention by raising more money than incumbent Congressman John Hall in the second quarter of 2009.[4] On November 21, 2009, Ball abandoned his Congressional run and decided to run for State Senate in District 40, the seat formerly held by Vincent Leibell. [5] In a letter to his supporters, Ball stated that the job of reforming Albany had not been completed, saying, "From property tax reform to corruption in government, the job I set to do in 2006 is still incomplete, and it can only be accomplished by continuing to tackle our nation's most dysfunctional legislature." [6] Ball, who was opposed by the Republican Party operatives[who?], defeated endorsed Republican candidate and Somers town supervisor Mary Beth Murphy in a primary election in September 2010. On November 2, 2010, Ball won election to the New York Senate from the 40th district by a 52%-48% margin over Mike Kaplowitz, also from Somers.

Political positions[edit]

On June 24, 2011, Ball voted against allowing same-sex marriage in New York during a senate roll-call vote on the Marriage Equality Act, which narrowly passed 33-29 and legalized marriages performed in the state regardless of the genders involved in the union. In a CNN interview, Ball said he did not think the bill went far enough in extending religious protections for "individuals and businesses with religious objections" to marriage equality for same-sex couples.

Ball opposes drilling in the Marcellus Formation and in particular the use of hydraulic fracturing in the process.[93] He has taken several tours of Pennsylvania with Josh Fox, the director of Gasland.

Ball supported the temporary two-month extension of the Social Security payroll tax relief, calling out incumbent Representative Nan Hayworth for voting against the bill using class-related rhetoric, accusing Hayworth of being out of touch with her constituents.

In 2012, Ball has expressed strong support for the use of public funds to transport private school students and is currently trying to increase the distance for these children that the public schools would be responsible for.[94]

Ball spoke out against publishing the names and addresses of handgun permit holders, insulting the editors of The Journal News, and accusing them of privacy violation.[95]

Gregory Ball has taken a strong, public stance against medical marijuana since bills regarding the topic have come before the NYS senate after passing through the Assembly. After Just Say Now activists contacted their representatives during the week of April 1, 2013, Senator Gregory Ball tweeted [7], "Receiving emails, calls on "Medical" Marijuana...let me be clear: Marijuana is NOT medicine. Period. Next topic..."

In April 2013, Ball argued on Twitter that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, one of the perpetrators of the Boston Marathon bombing, should be tortured in order to obtain information on any possible attacks in the future. He subsequently got into a heated on-air exchange with CNN host Piers Morgan when asked to defend his Twitter post.[96]

Retirement from politics[edit]

In May 2014, Ball announced that he would not seek reelection, opting instead to return to the private sector. He was replaced by Yorktown town councilman Terrence P. Murphy on January 1, 2015.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "I was honored to serve as Greg Ball's mentor while he was in the U.S. Air Force. ... As Greg excelled through the ranks and was promoted to Captain, I was honored to watch Greg perform as an outstanding young officer. Greg Ball graduated from the Air Force Academy, served in the White House Drug Policy Office, lived on Capitol Hill, and served in the 11th Wing in our Nation's capital working directly for four-star generals in the Pentagon and throughout the National Capitol Region. Few Lieutenants are chosen for such a demanding position."–Col. Joseph P. Green, USAF (Ret.), E-Mail to Bob Fois. June 6, 2006.
  2. ^ "Legislative Preview: Meet The New Members". The Capitol. Manhattan Media. January 6, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ campaign bio Archived 2012-10-28 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on September 25, 2012.
  4. ^ Henderson, Robert E., ed. "A Dialogue on the Presidency with a New Generation of Leaders: Papers of the 2002-2003 Center Fellows Archived 2019-04-02 at the Wayback Machine". Washington, DC: CSP, 2003.
  5. ^ "VOTER'S GUIDE: 99th state Assembly District". Poughkeepsie Journal. October 29, 2006.
  6. ^ "FBO DAILY ISSUE OF JULY 25, 2003 FBO #0603". Department of the Air Force, Direct Reporting Units, 11th CONS, 110 Luke Avenue (Bldg 5681) Suite 200, Bolling AFB, DC, 20332-0305. Retrieved June 1, 2008.
  7. ^ a b Chandramouly, Anjana. "American dream... in India". Business Line. March 17, 2006.
  8. ^ Germain, David. "U.S.-India Business Council Mounts 38-Company 4-City Executive Mission to India". US Newswire. March 2, 2007.
  9. ^ "US-based Exceed Int'l launches India Operations". AsiaPulse News. November 22, 2004.
  10. ^ "US construction co Exceed to build IT park in Chennai". Business Line. November 20, 2004.
  11. ^ Ramesh, M. "US construction co Exceed bags 6 projects in Chennai". Business Line. November 20, 2004.
  12. ^ "Exceed to invest Rs 50 crore in its Indian arm". Business Standard. November 20, 2004.
  13. ^ "The Next Economy". Exceed International. Retrieved on February 24, 2008.
  14. ^ Drummond, Sara. "India calls". CIRE Magazine. January 2006.
  15. ^ Kuyper, Diana. "Retail, condos encouraged". News Sun. October 11, 2005.
  16. ^ a b "Plans call for $75 million urban renewal project of village's downtown Archived 2007-02-13 at the Wayback Machine". Putnam County Courier. March 24, 2006.
  17. ^ Wagenseil, Paul (June 30, 2005). "Politician Tells Voters They're Idiots". Associated Press.
  18. ^ "Pawling man seeks GOP support for Assembly". Poughkeepsie Journal. May 31, 2005.
  19. ^ "Index to Politicians: Stephens". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved on February 24, 2008.
  20. ^ Risinit, Mike. "Greg’s been spending". The Journal News. July 13, 2006.
  21. ^ "New Yorkers on the Ball. 2006 July Periodic Report Summary Page". New York State Board of Elections. Retrieved on February 24, 2008. Archived January 7, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ Risinit, Mike. "Ball’s in or at least his paperwork is". The Journal News. July 11, 2006.
  23. ^ "Pawling man sets his sights on state Assembly seat". Poughkeepsie Journal. April 27, 2005.
  24. ^ Argetsinger, Amy (June 12, 2007). "Courage Cup: Ponying Up For Whose Charity?". The Washington Post. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  25. ^ "Ball says fundraising at charity event was 'perfectly legal'". Poughkeepsie Journal. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  26. ^ Risinit, Mike. "The chicken suit has been mothballed, sort of". The Journal News. May 31, 2006.
  27. ^ "Primary 2006". NY1 News. September 2006. Archived from the original on 2008-02-13.
  28. ^ "Ball Defeats incumbent Stephens for GOP Line in Assembly Race". The Journal News. September 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30.
  29. ^ "Foe questions ethics of assemblyman's mailing". Poughkeepsie Journal. March 8, 2006.
  30. ^ Fois, Bob. "99th: Ball's military record assailed". News Copy. June 29, 2006.
  31. ^ a b Risinit, Mike. "Carmel assemblyman says he won't run for Congress in '08". The Journal News. December 31, 2007.
  32. ^ "GOP legislators tout 'Road to Reform'". Poughkeepsie Journal. April 21, 2007.
  33. ^ Kramer, Catherine. "Democrats don’t have monopoly on reform". Legislative Gazette. January 8, 2007.
  34. ^ "Valley Republicans take Assembly oath". Poughkeepsie Journal. January 3, 2007.
  35. ^ Hammond, Bill. "My voice will be heard Archived 2012-07-24 at the Wayback Machine". Daily News. February 8, 2007.
  36. ^ "Joint Legislative Session". New York State Assembly. 2007-02-07. SenNet TV. {{cite episode}}: External link in |network= (help)
  37. ^ Gallagher, Jay. "Different tune from freshman Putnam lawmaker". The Journal News. March 6, 2007.
  38. ^ Risinit, Mike. "Eliot's on the phone". The Journal News. February 9, 2007.
  39. ^ "Newcomer Ball slowly learns ropes". Poughkeepsie Journal. January 17, 2007.
  40. ^ Confessore, Nicholas. "Scolding Peers, Legislator Draws Notice". New York Times. February 10, 2007.
  41. ^ "Colleagues boo freshman during scolding of Assembly". Poughkeepsie Journal. February 8, 2007.
  42. ^ Creelan, Jeremy and Moulton, Laura. "The New York State Legislative Process: An evaluation and blueprint for reform Archived 2008-05-29 at the Wayback Machine". New York University School of Law Brennan Center for Justice. Retrieved on February 28, 2008.
  43. ^ "Bill Summary - A08532". New York State Assembly. Retrieved on February 24, 2008.
  44. ^ Scott, Larry. "COMBAT VETS, GOING BACK TO VIETNAM, TO GET FREE TUITION AT N.Y. STATE UNIVERSITIES Archived 2008-04-20 at the Wayback Machine". VA Watchdog. April 16, 2008.
  45. ^ "Part N – Amend the Education Law in relation to tuition assistance for veterans Archived April 15, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Memorandum in Support Article VII Legislation, Education, Labor, and Family Assistance Archived April 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Enacted Budget, 2008-09 New York State Executive Budget Archived April 10, 2008, at the Wayback Machine." New York State Division of the Budget. Retrieved April 11, 2008.
  46. ^ West, Debra. "The Greg Ball effect: An anti-illegal alien strategy takes root and thrives". The Journal News. August 12, 2007.
  47. ^ Garland, Sarah. "Immigration Foes Will Search for Common Ground at Conference". New York Sun. May 30, 2008.
  48. ^ Klein, Benjamin. "Ball looks to hold people’s feet to the fire". Legislative Gazette. January 16, 2007.
  49. ^ Chase, Kelly A. "DMV debate is focus of special session Cuomo set to defend state against legal challenges to new policy". Legislative Gazette. October 29, 2007.
  50. ^ Blain, Glenn. "Assembly GOP takes aim at Spitzer license plan". The Journal News. October 1, 2007.
  51. ^ "GOP group critical of Spitzer plan". Poughkeepsie Journal. March 2, 2007.
  52. ^ "Assembly GOP to Sue Governor and Dept. of Motor Vehicles". Westchester Times Tribune. October 4, 2007.
  53. ^ Stone, Adam. "Ball pledges Albany reform[dead link]". North County News Archived 2008-04-12 at the Wayback Machine. December 27, 2006.
  54. ^ "1 in GOP welcomes Spitzer reforms". Poughkeepsie Journal. March 14, 2007.
  55. ^ "The Ball Express: Volunteer Night at Campaign Office[permanent dead link]". Ball for Assembly. May 12, 2008.
  56. ^ Risinit, Mike. "Move over, Yellow Pages Archived 2007-04-30 at the Wayback Machine". The Journal News. April 25, 2007.
  57. ^ "GOP candidate is target of vandals". Poughkeepsie Journal. November 2, 2006.
  58. ^ Risinit, Mike. "Definitely a trick". The Journal News. November 1, 2006.
  59. ^ Applebome, Peter. "When an Election Becomes a Forum on Immigration". New York Times. November 11, 2007.
  60. ^ Risinit, Mike. "Assemblyman Ball discusses illegal immigration and public safety". The Journal News. December 13, 2007.
  61. ^ Blain, Glenn. "Could it be Ball vs. Hall in 2008?". The Journal News. December 4, 2007.
  62. ^ Risinit, Mike. "Ball may run for House seat". The Journal News. December 17, 2007.
  63. ^ Blain, Glenn. "Ball not running for Congress". The Journal News. December 31, 2007.
  64. ^ Risinit, Michael. "Ex-mayor challenges 99th's Ball". Poughkeepsie Journal. May 12, 2008.
  65. ^ Risinit, Michael. "Ball primary win upends attacks, Leibell". The Journal News. September 11, 2008.
  66. ^ Gross, Eric. "Ball by a landslide[permanent dead link]". Putnam County Courier. September 10, 2008.
  67. ^ Risinit, Michael and Rojas, Marcela. "GOP voters overwhelmingly go with Ball over Degnan". The Journal News. September 9, 2008.
  68. ^ Gross, Eric. "It wasn't event close: Ball wins big in primary[dead link]". Pawling News Chronicle Archived 2008-11-21 at the Wayback Machine. September 10, 2008.
  69. ^ "Ball beats Degnan easily, but tensions persist[permanent dead link]". News 12 Networks. September 10, 2008.
  70. ^ "Ball easily survives Republican primary challenge". Mid-Hudson News. September 10, 2008.
  71. ^ Rojas, Marcela. "Ball defeats Degnan by 3-to-1 margin". Poughkeepsie Journal. September 10, 2008.
  72. ^ "Ball defeats Degnan, both live to fight another day[permanent dead link]". News 12 Networks. September 9, 2008.
  73. ^ "The Courier, July 1, 2010". Archived from the original on 2010-07-04. Retrieved 2010-12-28.
  74. ^ "New York". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Archived from the original on December 12, 2012.
  75. ^ "Westchester pol cries foul at alleged smear campaign[permanent dead link]". News 12 Networks. August 26, 2008.
  76. ^ Blain, Glenn. "[1]." Daily News. August 26, 2008.
  77. ^ News 12 reported that "In addition, Ball wants the FBI to step up an investigation of allegations he made last year, accusing Leibell of publishing a newspaper article, which incorrectly claimed Ball violated an order of protection brought by a former girlfriend after they broke up.
  78. ^ WC pol levels new charges against opponent[permanent dead link]". News 12 Networks. September 3, 2008.
  79. ^ a b Risinit, Michael. "GOP primary candidates locked in bitter spat". Poughkeepsie Journal. September 7, 2008.
  80. ^ "Former staff member says Ball sexually harassed her". The Journal News. September 3, 2008.
  81. ^ Gormley, Michael. "NY Assembly committee: No sex harassment by Ball". Newsday. October 23, 2008.
  82. ^ Risinit, Mike. "Attacks, accusations build in primary battle". The Journal News. September 7, 2008.
  83. ^ Risinit, Michael. "More on the sex harassment accusation in the 99th". The Journal News. September 4, 2008.
  84. ^ Risinit, Mike. "Ball alleges smear, denies harassment." The Journal News. September 4, 2008.
  85. ^ Risinit, Michael. "Former staff member says Ball sexually harassed her[permanent dead link]". The Journal News. September 3, 2008.
  86. ^ "(10/24/08) YORKTOWN – The Assembly Ethics Committee reached a 'not guilty' verdict in the case of Assemblyman Greg Ball (R), who was accused of sexually harassing a former staffer."—"News 12[permanent dead link]. Retrieved October 25, 2008.
  87. ^ Risinit, Michael. "No evidence sexual harassment by Ball, Silver says". Journal News. October 24, 2008.
  88. ^ "Ball did not harass staffer, panel decides". Poughkeepsie Journal. October 24, 2008.
  89. ^ Karlin, Rick. "Ball cleared of harassment charges". Albany Times-Union. October 23, 2008.
  90. ^ Spector, Joseph. "Ball calls for quick decision in possible ethics probe". Journal News. September 25, 2008.
  91. ^ "Ball cleared of sexual harassment charges". Mid-Hudson News. October 24, 2008.
  92. ^ Spector, Joseph. "Ball Cleared In Sexual Harassment Case". Journal News. October 23, 2008.
  93. ^ Campbell, Jon (December 21, 2011). Ball, Castelli slam hydrofracking, Ball takes dig at Hayworth. Gannett News Service. Retrieved December 21, 2011.
  94. ^ Katherine Pacchiana.Ball Holds Busing Forum at Somers JFK High School Archived 2013-02-03 at archive.today, The Daily Croton, March 17, 2012
  95. ^ Goodman, J. David (January 2, 2013). "Newspaper That Put Gun Permit Map Online Hires Armed Guards". The New York Times. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
  96. ^ Edelman, Adam (April 23, 2013). "New York State Sen. Greg Ball stands by rant on Piers Morgan's show calling for torture of accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2013-04-24.

External links[edit]

New York State Assembly
Preceded by New York State Assembly
99th District

2007–10
Succeeded by
New York State Senate
Preceded by New York State Senate, 40th District
2011–15
Succeeded by