NATCHEZ — A secret ballot taken by the Adams County Board of Supervisors revealed the newest member of the Natchez-Adams School Board to be lawyer Tim Blalock Jr.

Board of Supervisors President Darryl Grennell said the vote was 3-2 in favor of Blalock, 33. He replaces Dale Steckler on the board. Supervisors interviewed Blalock and four other candidates during an executive session at a specially called board meeting Thursday before casting hand-written ballots.

District 2 Supervisor Mike Lazarus nominated Blalock at the board’s Oct. 3 meeting.

“I loved Mr. Blalock’s enthusiasm for the school system,” Lazarus said.

Blalock said he has two children in the NASD and graduated from Natchez High School.

“I think he’s going to make a good board member,” he said.

Steckler’s term expired in March. She said she declined to be reappointed when supervisors asked her to serve another term. Steckler had served on the school board for 10 years.

Other nominees included Kim Stevens, who Lazarus nominated; Phillip West, who District 3 Supervisor Thomas “Boo” Campbell nominated; Dora Hawkins, who Grennell nominated; and Tiffiany Kyzar, who District 5 Supervisor S.E. “Spanky” Felter nominated.

Grennell said Blalock received the majority vote following a runoff between he and Stevens.

Blalock will take his spot on the school board as soon as he is bonded in as a member, Grennell said.

Grennell and Lazarus both said all five candidates impressed them, which made for a difficult decision.

Board Attorney Bobby Cox said unlike the road manager position, the board was able to appoint a school board member Thursday even though less than six months remains of the current supervisors’ terms because school board members are not answerable to the supervisors. Any grievances supervisors have with actions of the school boards must be appealed to the court system, Cox said.

“The person they appoint is independent from the (supervisors),” Cox said.