Nathan “Nate” Brown, a Republican, resigned Monday afternoon as a Lehigh County commissioner. It was his first term.

He notified the board of commissioners in an email on the afternoon of Oct. 19. Brown’s resignation is effective 4 p.m. Oct. 30. The next commissioners’ meeting is scheduled Oct. 28.

Brown, who was serving his first term in office, told The Press he had been promoted in his job and consequently has much more responsibility and would not have enough time to properly serve the people of District 5.

District 5 includes Emmaus (his residence), Macungie, Salisbury, Upper Milford and Lower Milford townships, Upper Saucon and Coopersburg.

Brown said he has been promoted in the fire suppression company where he works and his new duties, which require extensive travel in the Mid-Atlantic states, will increase to the point where he didn’t feel he could give the people who elected him the proper attention.

He said his succession is governed by the Home Rule Charter, the controlling charter for Lehigh County.

Under this rule, resident Republicans from District 5 would be expected to put themselves forward as candidates.

The charter requires Brown’s replacement be a Republican.

Candidates will then be interviewed by the board of commissioners which needs to make a selection decision within 45 days after the interview process is completed.

If no decision is made by commissioners, the matter would go to a judge who would make an appointment to the post.

Brown unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 131st Legislative District last year.

His opponent incumbent Justin Simmons, a Republican, won the Primary Election.

Brown served on Emmaus Borough Council from 2008 through 2017.