Pender Co commissioner makes difficult decision to leave

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY)– Pender County Commissioner Jimmy Tate is moving on to a new career.

At a meeting Tuesday, he put in his resignation as a county commissioner. Tate says he is resigning, because he recently accepted a new job that requires him to move outside the county, but he says the decision was not an easy one.

“I have never cried over a decision as much I have about this one,” Tate said.

Tate told the board that he will no longer serve on the board with them.

“I have accepted a new job and I am not going to be selfish and remain here,” Tate said.

He explained how challenging that decision was.

“I will admit that tonight, even as I was sitting here tonight and thinking about how proud my mom was when I became a county commissioner and to see how proud I’ve been to serve the county,” Tate said.

After 8 years of opportunities as a commissioner, he says he’s excited about a new opportunity as a vice president of James Sprunt Community College.

“It allows me to serve the people in a different way,” Tate said.

That job requires him to move to Duplin County by July.

“If I already know in the back of my mind that I am going to accept this role and I love my community college I love my students there, I want to give my successor an opportunity to come in and learn about the county budget,” Tate said.

He took the opportunity to say his goodbyes to the commissioners and they said theirs, while the sheriff took his opportunity to send Tate out with one last laugh.

“Point of Order to remind the board of their own rule,” Sheriff Carson H. Smith Jr. said. “You’re not to take action on anything that’s not on the agenda. Now, somehow this note passed me. There was no resignation on the agenda today, so I’m not sure how official this is.”

Tate says he will only be a few miles down the road and he will still be involved in the community.
Tate says the democratic party can now appoint someone to take over his position and the commissioners will vote on it.