Foreclosure Could Force Member FromCongressional Race

MORGANTON, N.C. - (08/30/04) -- A week after unprecedented creditunion intervention failed to boost the credit union-backedcandidate to victory in the Republican primary run-off, the racefor the state's tenth congressional district took another unusualtwist last week. Democratic Party leaders last week asked theircandidate, Anne Fischer, to withdraw from the race after her homewas foreclosed on by State Employees CU. Fischer said party leadersasked her to resign after learning she lost her home in theforeclosure and she had no job. Federal election rules allow aparty to require a candidate's withdrawal for criminal wrongdoingor financial malfeasance. The move came a week after State Rep.Patrick McHenry bested Sheriff David Huffman in the Republicanprimary run-off, despite an expensive last-minute add campaign byCUNA and the North Carolina CU League on behalf of Huffman, along-time member of the Local Government Employees FCU advisorycommittee.