Monroe Commissioner, convicted of drug offense, runs unopposed

MONROE COUNTY, Michigan —

Republican County Commissioner and Chairman of Monroe County, 2nd District Mark Brant must serve 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to drug charges in federal court in March.

According to court documents, Brant “knowingly and willfully” conspired and agreed to distribute and possess marijuana and THC with the intent to distribute.

Brant faces re-election in November and hopes to keep his seat on the all-Republican body. He is running unopposed.

“Can he sit in jail and serve on the county commission at the same time? I think technically yes. Is that the best choice for the people of his district? That's a matter between him and the people of his district,” said Randy Richardville, Precinct 5 commissioner and vice chairman of the commission.

RELATED TOPIC: Monroe County Commissioner Convicted of Federal Drug Charges

He added that it was too late to remove Brant from the electoral list,However, if the convicted commissioner is re-elected, Richardville said, the decision on how to proceed would lie with the newly elected board.

The commissioners, elected in November 2024 and sworn in in 2025, will hold their offices for four years.

If Brant is removed from office or resigns from his seat within the first two years of his four-year term, Richardville said there will be a special election.

“The county clerk would set a special election date,” he explained. “Then the voters in his district would decide whether they wanted to re-elect him or whether perhaps someone else would take that seat.”

If Brant is removed or resigns after the first two years of his four-year term, the commissioners could appoint a new chair.

Although Brant's name will be the only one on the ballot, voters have another option.

“There's a chance that a candidate who isn't on the ballot can say, 'Hey, given the circumstances, I'm running for this position,'” Richardville said.

Monroe County Democrats are running with the option to hand-nominate candidates. Party Chairman Rick Kull reported on the party's plans to campaign for write-in candidate Danielle Hoover.

Kull added that the Republican Party should have nominated and campaigned for another candidate when Brant was first indicted.

“I think a party with morals would say, 'Look, Mr. Brant, you're facing a felon conviction' – he pleaded guilty to a drug law violation – 'We're going to support another candidate,'” Kull said.

The Democratic Party is working with legal teams to amend Michigan's current law regarding felons running for political office. The law Currently, elected officials in the states are barred from holding public office only if they are convicted of crimes related to their official functions.

Kull says they are seeking to update the law so that convicted felons do not even appear on the ballot.

“W“We will do our best to change this law in Lansing, but to do that we need to elect Democrats 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 as its nominee.