SHELBYVILLE — Not even three weeks after his primary defeat by Gene Price for the contested seat in District 9, Shelby County Board member Cody Brands has opted to resign rather than serve the remainder of his term, which ends November 30.
Brands, a Republican, was defeated by Price 340-144 in the March 19 primary.
Shelby County Clerk Jessica Fox has confirmed that Brands submitted his resignation effective as of Monday, April 8. The announcement of Brands’ resignation will be during Thursday’s county board meeting.
The Shelby County Republican Central Committee will have 60 days to name a replacement to serve until November 30.
Brands was the chairman of the Public Safety Committee, replacing fellow board member Sonny Ross, who stepped down in light of the controversy surrounding the Shelby County Dive Team. Ross’ stand-down order resulted in the resignation of the entire dive team last year.
In the aftermath of the controversy, Brands and Board Chairman Bobby Orman were authorized by the board to handle matters relating to the dive team.
The board is slated to appoint Tim Morse, Carol Cole, and Tad Mayhall to the Public Safety Committee following the resignations of Brands, Annette Martin, and Lori Morse. Ross reportedly will remain on the committee.
Price will face off against Democrat Chrissy Latzke in the November general election. The other seat in District 9 for a two-year term will have Republican appointee Shawne Martz facing off against Democrat Chrissy Grant.
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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.