Eastern and Central Europe in the 20 th century

ANOTHER CONGRESSIONAL OPEN SEAT. Congressman Cass Ballenger (R-NC) announced his retirement Tuesday. The 76-year-old legislator -- who was first elected to Congress in 1986 -- has spent more than three decades in elective office at local, state and federal levels. While he has never lost an election, Ballenger was expected to face stiff opposition in the GOP primary next year from wealthy textile executive George Moretz and others. Moretz -- a former Ballenger supporter and contributor -- split with Ballenger because of the incumbent's support for President Bush's free trade policies. Ballenger's district has lost nearly 40,000 manufactu...