ONLY ON 3: New job leads to questions about Pender commissioner’s residency

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Pender County Commissioner Jimmy Tate’s residency has come into question after he accepted a job with James Sprunt Community College in December.

The college is in Duplin County, and the job description for Tate’s position as Vice President of College Advancement says the person in the job must live in Duplin County.

So just where does Tate live?

We spoke with Tate this afternoon. He says that the position with James Sprunt gives him eight months to move to Duplin County. Of course, if he moves, that would keep him from being a Pender County Commissioner. For now he still lives in Pender County.

“I certainly reside at my family home, where my mom and dad raised me at,” Tate said. “That’s where I’m going to reside at. That’s where I live at. In fact, I’m doing some renovations to my house. I love my house. And that’s my farm house, and that’s where I live, and I left there this morning, and that’s where I plan to go back at tonight.”

Tate says if he decides to stay with the college he will give up his role as county commissioner and move to Duplin County as the job requires. He has until this summer to decide.