Ernest H. Dark owes $3,803.51 for his 2005 property and vehicle taxes, said Vicki McConnell, the county's finance director.

McConnell will start holding back 10 percent of his monthly stipend, or $20, with the next pay period to pay the taxes, she said. Dark, a Democrat, earns $200 a month for serving on the board, said elections director Dawn Stumpf.

Dark did not return a message left on his cell phone Tuesday. Elections board Chairwoman Audrey Poe also did not return a message left on her cell phone.

Don Wright, general counsel for the State Board of Elections, said Dark's delinquent tax payments do not affect his ability to serve on the county board of elections.

The board has been under fire since the beginning of the year.

Most recently, two citizens sued Dark, Poe and board member Craig Bray, claiming violations of the state's open meetings and public records laws during deliberations over new voting equipment. The lawsuit, filed March 31, also names Stumpf.

Plaintiffs Gretchen Lothrop and Gael McKeon are asking a court to nullify actions taken Jan. 17 in an "emergency meeting," alleging that there was no advance notice, which is required. During that meeting, the board voted to buy a combination of touch-screen and paper ballot voting equipment for early voting and Election Day.

The Chatham County Democratic Party, which appointed Dark and Poe to the elections board, recently called on the board to reconsider its vote during that emergency meeting.

"There are a lot of reasons both [Democratic] members of the board have been under fire," said Bill Haiges, chairman of the county Democratic Party, who said he was unaware of Dark's tax debt.

Dark is expected to appear Thursday before the State Board of Elections to petition for an additional early voting site in the northeastern part of Chatham County. Last week, the county elections board voted 2-1 for the extra site at North Chatham School, but election law requires a unanimous vote to approve a remote early voting site. The site would be open the week before the Democratic primary May 2.

The state had told the local board to set up the precinct after receiving numerous complaints from residents.

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