H-Tate, John AJack Tate, a freshman state representative from Centennial, was selected over the weekend by a vacancy committee to complete David Balmer’s term in the state Senate.  Tate was the only person considered by the committee.  The seat is up for re-election in 2016.

Balmer, who served three years out of a four year senate term, chose to step down and become political director for the Humane Society Legislative Fund, which is the political lobbying arm of the well-known animal welfare advocacy group.  While in the state Senate, Balmer chaired the influential Business, Labor, and Technology Committee, and also sat on the Local Government Committee.

Tate has built a career in business, construction management, and engineering, and during his one year in the House, served on the State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee; and on the Business, Labor, Economic, and Workforce Development Committee.  Tate holds a degree in engineering from Duke, and masters’ degrees in marketing and finance.

Although serving in the state House from District 37 was Tate’s first elected office, he ran unsuccessfully for Centennial City Council in 2013.