DMV commissioner resigns


State Division of Motor Vehicles Commissioner George Tatum resigned today.

The resignation comes a little more than a week after The News & Observer reported an allegation that Tatum had helped a friend get a replica of a 1937 Ford truck titled as the real thing. The report prompted an inquiry from the State Bureau of Investigation.

Ernie Seneca, a spokesman for the state Department of Transportation, would say only that Tatum had resigned, reports Dan Kane.

As to why Tatum resigned, Seneca would say only that it's a "personnel matter that I can't discuss."

Seneca said that Mark Foster, the DOT's chief financial officer, has been named interim commissioner.

Gov. Mike Easley appointed Tatum DMV commissioner in 2003. He is a former register of deeds for Cumberland County.

Tatum could not be reached for comment this afternoon.

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