MONROE, Mich. — Monroe County commissioners voted Tuesday to appeal a judge’s ruling that could return a commission seat to Mark Brant, who served time in federal prison on a drug charge .

Last week, Washtenaw County Judge Carol Kuhnke ruled that Brant never legally vacated his District 2 seat while serving his 18-month sentence. The judge’s order temporarily paused the decision for 21 days, giving the county time to appeal.

Commissioners voted 5-3 to move forward with that appeal. Board Chairman David Vensel said the decision was necessary.

“Mr. Brant has hoodwinked this board and the residents of District 2 for a year and a half,” Vensel said during the meeting. “We need to see this through to the end and we need to move forward with an appeal.”

Brant resigned from the board in Oct

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