Rankin County Supervisor Wood Brown resigns

Rankin County District 2 Supervisor Wood Brown submitted his letter of resignation to the Board of Supervisors on Monday.

77-year-old Brown resigned because of health issues, Board President Greg Wilcox said.

It is too late in the year to hold a special election, so the next step is for the board to appoint someone to fill the vacancy until supervisors go up for re-election in 2015, according to Board Attorney Craig Slay.

"This is brand new to us and we have to have time to absorb this," Wilcox said. But there will likely be "some kind of selection process where we would look at all the criteria and see what's best for District 2."

Brown's family made the following statement about Brown's resignation: "This is a serious decision he has considered in recent weeks. He felt it was in the best interest of his constituents to step aside in order for him to take care of his health. We stand by our father's decision and greatly appreciate the outpouring of support we have received from everyone."

"He's always been a team player," Wilcox said of Brown. " ... He had very great values. He was a true Christian. When he made a decision, he made it from his heart. And he's truly going to be missed as a board member."

Brown has served as supervisor in Rankin County since 2007. He has a long history of public service, including stints with the state Public Service Commission, Department of Agriculture and Commerce, Department of Corrections and as a Democratic Supervisor for Hinds County from 1988 to 1992.

Brown and his family moved to Rankin County in 1995.