### Embattled County Commissioner Heads to Prison After Landslide Re-election

Newly re-elected County Commissioner Mark Brant of Monroe County, Michigan, is preparing to serve his community in a rather unusual way. Though Brant secured another term with an overwhelming 90% of the vote in early November, his immediate future involves reporting to federal prison in Morgantown, West Virginia, this Friday.

Brant was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, fined $500,000, and agreed to forfeit over $300,000 found in his home. This comes after he pleaded guilty to "maintaining a drug-involved premises," which involved leasing land to individuals growing marijuana to be sold in Ohio, a clear violation of federal law. While it might sound like he was running a major drug operation, the reality was somewhat less dramatic.

Serving as the chairman of the Monroe County Commission, Brant managed to keep the federal investigation under wraps for four years. Commissioner Randy Richardville noted that Brant reassured his colleagues that there were no issues when rumors began circulating, only to reveal the truth in September. Brant resigned from the commission on October 1, but it was too late to remove his name from the ballot or replace him with another candidate, leading to his re-election.

Despite his upcoming incarceration, Brant remains committed to his role. He has arranged for colleagues to handle his constituents' concerns during his absence and will have someone manage his messages. His annual salary of approximately $15,000 will continue, although he has expressed a desire to donate it to charity, considering his legal obligation to accept it.

Brant's legal troubles have raised significant questions among Monroe County officials and residents. Some are questioning whether county officials who knew about Brant's federal investigation should have informed the commission sooner. It's also unclear whether elected officials should use their positions to advocate for leniency for colleagues facing legal issues.

Brant's lawyer described him as a "serial entrepreneur" with a diverse portfolio that includes renting land for agriculture, commercial and residential real estate, selling livestock, vintage cars, and running Twin Lakes Llama Ranch. Brant has admitted to knowingly breaking the law by renting properties for marijuana cultivation.

This isn't Brant's first brush with the law. In 1984, he pleaded guilty to selling misbranded over-the-counter diet pills and served two years probation. His political career began in 1986 when he was elected as the supervisor of Raisinville Township. He was appointed to the Monroe County Planning Commission in 2002 and won his first term on the Monroe County Commission in 2012. He rose to the position of chairman in 2020.

Top county officials, including County Administrator Michael Bosanac and Deputy Aundrea Armstrong, supported Brant in letters sent to his lawyer, which were later presented to the judge in a bid to avoid prison time. They admitted they were unaware of the specific charges or Brant's guilty plea at the time.

As Mark Brant prepares to serve his sentence, the community and his colleagues face ongoing challenges and debates over the implications of his actions and their impact on Monroe County's governance.