TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – There’s controversy brewing in Monroe County over the District 2 Board of Commissioners’ seat.
Mark Brant who was convicted in a federal court on drug charges showed up to a county board meeting and wouldn’t leave.
He maintains he has a right to serve district 2, but the board says he cannot.
“I’d like the record to show that Commissioner Brant district 2 is present,” a Commissioner can be heard say at the meeting.
Several months after being convicted and sentenced to federal prison on drug charges, Brant amade his presence known.
“Mr. Brant if you would remove himself from the seat and join the members of the audience,” David Vensel, (R)- Chair of the Monroe County Commissioners said at the meeting.
The meeting took place July 15th.
“I won’t step down from the podium, unless you force me to step down from the podium, because I believe to this day and I think you agree that I was duly elected, you stated it, I was sworn in, I became a county commissioner representing district 2 that day at that time,” Brant argued.
Mr. Brant said the county commissioners did not have the authority to agree with an opinion from a county attorney, who through legal analysis, said he was not qualified to hold office.
Commissioners voted to remove him from an elected position because he was in prison.
“On the date he was to take office, he couldn’t because he was not a qualified elector and he did not remain a qualified elector,” the legal advisor said.
The commissioners set up an special election to replace Brant, with an August 5th primary and November general election.
“The minute Mr. Brant walked up there and sat down he should have been removed,” Dwayne Dobbs a Republican candidate for District 2 said.
He’s one of two of the three candidates running for District 2 to release a bipartisan letter raising concerns about the integrity of the local government, in the face of Brant participating in the meeting.
“They voted 5-3 that he was not eligible to be a county commissioner,” he said.
Brant responded to a request for an interview with a statement saying:
“With all due respect, nothing I say will keep you from over exaggerating the actual facts of this situation so I respectfully decline to be a part of that.”
Both Brant and the county attorney believe this issue is likely heading for a judge to determine.
13 Action News reached out to each current Commissioner for a comment and have not yet heard back.
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This article was published by WTVG on 2025-07-29 06:02:00
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