By WENDI ZONGKER

wendi.zongker@mynassausun.com [1]

YULEE -- Tom Branan resigned from the Nassau County Commission at tonight's meeting citing his ailing health and May 29 car accident as his reasons.

The resignation was announced at the beginning of the meeting by Commission Chairwoman Marianne Marshall, who read aloud the letter Branan wrote to Gov. Charlie Crist.

"I feel that it is to the best interest of myself, my fellow commissioners and the people of Nassau County," Branan wrote. "This is my third as County Commissioner and I have enjoyed serving the people of Nassau County and the state of Florida, of which I lived all my life."

Branan's resignation is effective July 14. He was absent from the meeting.