KALAMAZOO, MI -- Commissioner Kevin Wordelman resigned Tuesday after moving out of the Kalamazoo County district he was elected to represent.

Wordelman, a Democrat representing District 2, closed on a house in Kalamazoo Township's Westwood neighborhood on Sept. 24 and changed his voter registration two days later. Wordelman said he didn't review a state law requiring county commissioners to reside within their district. He notified the county last Friday, three days after participating in the Oct. 2 board meeting.

Any actions where Wordelman made a motion, seconded a motion, or cast a determining vote on Oct. 2 should be reconsidered, according to an email from Corporate Counsel Elizabeth White to commissioners. Those items, which include adoption of the 2019 budget, have been placed on the Oct. 16 agenda.

Board Chair Stephanie Moore accepted Wordelman's resignation late Tuesday evening. The board has until Oct. 26 to find a replacement or the seat will remain empty until the end of the year, White said in the email.

Moore said she hopes the board will appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of Wordelman's term at its Oct. 16 meeting. A special election could be held to fill the vacancy, but she would prefer the board make a decision.

Wordelman's departure means Democrats lost their majority on the board. There are now five sitting Republicans and five sitting Democrats, who have often voted along party lines.

Moore said she has a been considering possible replacements but said the seat is open for anyone living in District 2 who wants to apply. Interested parties should email all 10 commissioners, she said, but it's not clear what the interview process will look like.

Democrat Paul Haag, a Marine Corps veteran, is running unopposed for Wordelman's seat in the Nov. 6 general election. The new board will be sworn in next January.

Wordelman declined to comment Wednesday morning, but directed MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette to a statement published on his Facebook campaign page.

Wordelman said he did not pursue re-election because his family intended to move after his term expired on Dec. 31, but it happened sooner than expected. The two-term commissioner encouraged his constituents to vote in the Nov. 6 general election.

"Moving out of the district when we did was the right thing for our family at the right time," the statement said.

My Friends, With some sadness and regret, I am resigning my seat on the County Board of Commissioners. Our seats are... Posted by Kevin Wordelman for Kalamazoo on Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Wordelman expressed regret Tuesday about not notifying the county of his new address sooner. He said his mind was focused on getting his family settled in the new home.

Moore said she is anxious about the board's ability to conduct business, but said items related to straightforward county business should pass as normal.

There are several points of business coming up which have split the board down party lines, including approving a legal representative in a lawsuit against opioid manufacturers and decisions regarding indigent defense.

Wordelman could almost always be counted on to vote with other Democrats.

He apologized to voters for ending his time in office on a sour note.

"I certainly apologize to folks in my district," Wordelman said. "The 2nd district contains a lot of great neighborhoods, a lot of great people, and my hope is that the board would vote to appoint someone to replace me as soon as possible."