Local attorney John Tate was sworn in as the newest member of the Beaufort County Board of Elections on Friday, replacing a board member who had been removed by the State Board of Elections.

According to Tate, he received a phone call from the State Board of Elections asking if he would be willing to serve. Tate sent in an application and was appointed to fill the open position on the three-member board.

“I am an attorney, which I think they like having an attorney on the board if they can have one,” said Tate. “I have served in various ways throughout the county: I’m on the City of Washington Planning Board; I’ve served on several different nonprofit boards; I ran for City Council one time, years ago; and I have been somewhat active in Republican politics.”

The former member, Delma Blinson, was recently removed from the local board for violating a state law that prohibits elections officials from publicly supporting or opposing candidates for elected office.

The state board received a complaint that Blinson violated a state law — specifically, General Statute 163-39 — that forbids elections officials from making “written or oral statements intended for general distribution or dissemination to the public at large supporting or opposing the nomination or election of one or more clearly identified candidates for public office.” The state board learned of the alleged violation by way of an email from Chocowinity resident William Buonanno. The state board staff investigated the complaint.