
The Republican challenging U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre this fall owes his ex-wife thousands of dollars in child support, court records show.
According to documents filed in Bladen County Superior Court, Will Breazeale is in arrears by more than $37,000 — a figure that he disputes. He also says that the legal action taken against him is politically motivated.
Fayetteville Observer
I’m not exactly certain how Breazeale can explain away $37 grand in back payments. That’s a staggering amount and it doesn’t happen by accident. You’d think he would have thought over this a little more closely before entering this race. This only helps his opponent more.
Breazeale, who is representing himself in court, said he and his ex-wife divorced in 1994 in Georgia. They share custody of their daughter, and they live about a mile apart, he said.
He said his deployments to Iraq and his job as an airline pilot boosted his income, which affected his child support obligations. He returned from Iraq in April 2007, he said.
“I’ve been back for a year, and we have been in negotiation the whole the time,†he said.
Court records say he is supposed to pay $600 a month in child support while he is deployed. When not deployed, he is supposed to pay 20 percent of his gross monthly income.
I do want to add, however, that the amount he has to pay his ex-wife is ridiculous. 20% of his gross monthly income when they share custody and she lives a mile away? I could maybe see if she had the kid the whole time, but I would still think that is excessive. Child support is supposed to be exactly that. It’s not supposed to prop up the lifestyle of the other parent, which is what this amount sounds like to me.
Breazeale said Womble has trumped up the issue and overstated the back child support for political reasons.
Womble, a Democrat, called the charge absurd.
“I know Mike McIntyre, but my representation of (Trivette) has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the political process.â€
According to Federal Election Commission records, Womble gave McIntyre’s campaign $1,000 on Oct. 2.
Womble’s relationship to McIntyre is certainly suspect, but Breazeale is also engaging in a campaign tactic by blaming Womble for this negative news rather than himself. If Breazeale had paid this money on time then there would be no case for Womble to bring.
Breazeale is already facing an uphill battle in taking on McIntyre. He hasn’t done himself any favors here. How much impact this has on the race will be determined by how much of a deal the McIntyre Campaign, the Democratic Party, and the media make of this. McIntyre says he won’t make this race about personal issues. He really doesn’t have to. I don’t think he is worried about losing his seat.