RIDGELAND -- State and local officials are debating whether two Jasper County residents are illegally holding seats on multiple county boards.

Two members of Jasper's Transportation Committee hold a second county office, but South Carolina law doesn't allow people to sit on more than one state or county board.

Carl Tyler, a longtime member of the Transportation Committee, was selected by Gov. Mark Sanford to fill one of several vacancies on the county Election Commission last month, and Andrea Smallwood, also on the Transportation Committee, serves on the county school board.

"Right now I'm talking with several (Election Commission) members and seeing how best to rectify the matter," state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, D-Ridgeland, said of Tyler's situation.

Gary Baum, spokesman for the S.C. Election Commission, said dual office holding is an issue handled by a county's legislative delegation.

But officials with the governor's office say the dual office holding issue for Tyler was resolved once he was appointed to the Election Commission.

"He doesn't serve on the (Transportation Committee) any longer," said Will Folks, spokesman for the governor's office. "You automatically forfeit the old position for the new board."

Tyler said he won't step down from the Transportation Committee until he "receives something in writing."

"I will not move until I get (the local delegation's) input and documentation," he said.

Jasper County Clerk to Council Judy Frank said she informed Tyler of the conflict through a phone call last week.

County Election Commissioner Jimmy Daley addressed the conflict at a meeting last month but was quickly shouted down.

"We looked at it, but ultimately it is up to the individual," he said.

Pinckney, who makes up the Jasper County Legislative Delegation along with state Rep. Thayer Rivers, D-Ridgeland, said some counties allow people to serve on two boards until one of their terms expires. But Pinckney said he's not sure if Jasper is one of those counties.

Jasper County Councilwoman Gladys Jones said she wants the Legislative Delegation to act on the dual office holding issue immediately.

"This is a problem that needs to be addressed countywide," she said.

Transportation Committee Chairman Henry Lawton said he won't take apart his board until someone tells him to.

"I have not received anything from anybody," he said.