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Rock Township official resigns

ROCK TOWNSHIP — A week after losing one election and winning another, a town of Rock supervisor has stepped away from politics.

Bryce O'Leary, who was re-elected to his supervisory seat April 7, resigned April 13.

"It's a case of a bunch of things that all came together at one time," O'Leary said. "My brother and I run a dairy farm, and we're dealing with the lowest milk prices we've ever seen. The town board requires an enormous amount of time."

O'Leary and his brother milk about 200 cows. O'Leary also runs a custom foraging operation.

He ran for supervisor and board chairman in the April 7 election.

O'Leary won the supervisory seat but lost the race for chairman to incumbent Mark Gunn, 274-272.

An April 11 recount requested by O'Leary confirmed Gunn's win but changed the result to 274-271. The recount cost the town less than $200, said Deb Bennett, clerk/treasurer.

On April 14, Bennett received O'Leary's resignation letter.

Because O'Leary's term officially ended April 13, it is more accurate to say O'Leary "declined to take the oath of office," Bennett said.

"There's no good time to quit politics," O'Leary said. "But I decided that this (the dairy farm) needed my attention."

At the first board meeting in May, Gunn and Connell will appoint O'Leary's replacement.

If there is an even number of board members, the clerk/treasurer also votes, Bennett said.

Gunn has received a few calls about the election.

"I've gotten some questions about how an individual can run for two positions, but it is allowed under state statutes," he said.