Rep. Vince Dean, R-East Ridge, resigned today as the chairman of the Hamilton County Legislative Delegation.

Dean said he bowed out because he couldn't devote enough time to the chairmanship while also running to the the county's criminal court clerk.

"I just wanted to offer it up to someone who had more time to devote to it," he said.

Dean is the Republican nominee who will face 20-year incumbent Democrat Gwen Tidwell for the criminal court clerk job on Aug. 7.