After nine-and-a-half years leading the City of Concordia, Michael Brown will make his way up the road to Lexington to join county government.

Brown submitted his resignation at a special meeting of the Concordia Board of Aldermen on Tuesday, Oct. 21, announcing that he would soon receive an appointment to become the interim southern district commissioner for Lafayette County. Aldermen accepted his resignation, with board president Kaleb Nierman offering a letter of recognition extending the city’s gratitude for Brown’s service to the city, dating back to his election to the board in April 2013. Nierman will serve as acting mayor until the board selects a new mayor in November. The position will go on the April 7, 2026 municipal ballot to fill the remaining year on the term.

Wednesday morning, Brown received the nod from Lafayette County northern district commissioner Monica Ritter and presiding commissioner Harold Hoflander to serve as southern district commissioner on an interim basis. Clerk Jessica White tells KMMO News that the vacancy occurred when southern district commissioner Brad MacLaughlin announced his resignation Oct. 8 to become the new finance director for the Odessa R-VII School District. Brown will serve in an interim capacity until Governor Mike Kehoe formally appoints a replacement to serve the remaining three years of MacLaughlin’s term.