MONROE COUNTY, Michigan —
Republican District 2 Monroe County Commissioner and Chairman Mark Brant will spend 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in March to federal drug charges.
According to court documents, Brant "knowingly and intentionally" conspired and agreed to distribute and possess with the intention to distribute marijuana and THC.
Brant is up for re-election in November, hoping to retain his seat on the all-Republican board and is running unopposed.
"Can he be in prison and a member of the county board of commissioners? I think technically yes. Is that the best choice for the people in his district? That's between him and the people of his district," said District 5 Commissioner and Vice Chairman of the board, Randy Richardville.
He added that it's too late to take Brant off the ballot, but if the convicted commissioner is re-elected, Richardville noted it's up to the newly elected board to decide what happens next.
Commissioners elected in November 2024, and who are sworn in in 2025, will hold their seats for four years.
If Brant is removed from or vacates his seat within the first two years of his four year term, Richardville said there will be a special election.
"The county clerk would select a special election date," he explained. "Then, the electorate in his district would decide whether they want to re-elect him or maybe somebody else would take that place."
If Brant is removed or vacates after the first two years of his four term, commissioners would be able to appoint a new chairman.
Although Brant's name will be the only one on the ballot, there is another option for voters.
"It's a possibility that a write-in candidate can say 'hey, given the circumstances, I'm going to run for this position,'" Richardville said.
Monroe County Democrats are running with that write-in option. Party Chairman Rick Kull reported the party plans on campaigning for write-in candidate Danielle Hoover.
Kull added that the Republican Party should have nominated and campaigned for a different candidate when Brant was initially charged.
"I think a party with morality would say 'listen, Mr. Brant, you're facing conviction as a felon' — which he pleaded guilty to a drug law — 'we're going to have another candidate to endorse,'" Kull said.
The Democratic Party is working with legal teams to try and adjust Michigan's current law regarding to felons running for office. The law currently states elected officials are only ineligible for public office if they're convicted of crimes related to a candidate's official capacity.
Kull states they want to see the law updated so that any convicted felon can't even make it on the ballot.
"We are going to do our best to get this law changed in Lansing, but in order for that to happen, we have to get Democrats elected to the state legislature, or responsible Republicans who are willing to listen," he said.
Richardville said he does not believe the Republican Party has selected an alternative candidate to Brant to campaign for as a write-in.
Brant's full sentencing can be read here: