(WXYZ) — The Chairman of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners David Woodward has resigned his position.
The Royal Oak Democrat is considered one the the leading candidates to be named Oakland County Executive in the wake of the death of L. Brook Patterson. Oakland County Treasure Andy Meisner is also considered a candidate for the position.
Meisner has been critical of the Board of Commissioners for lacking transparency in the process to name a successor for Patterson who died Saturday.
Both Meisner and Woodward had previously announced they would run for the position in 2020.
Commissioner Marcia Gershenson of Bloomfield Township will take over as Acting Board Chairperson.
Woodward has been Chairman of the Board since January. He has been a member since 2004.
The Board of Commissioners has 30 days to name someone to fill out his term. If a replacement is not named, a special election will need to be held.
The clock is also ticking on the need to name a successor for Patterson. The Board has 30 days from the date of his death to name a replacement, or a special election will need to be called.
With Woodward's resignation, the Board is now evenly split, with 10 Republican members and 10 Democratic members.
