The State Board of Elections fired its executive director and assistant to the director on Tuesday. The board did not explain why Executive Director Maryellen Allen, a Democrat, and Assistant to the Director Matthew Selph, a Republican, were dismissed. “This was a bipartisan decision of the state board of elections, both non-merit employees, that their services were no longer needed,” said Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, who serves as the chairwoman of the board. When pressed for the reason, Grimes just repeated her earlier statement. “Their services were no longer needed,” she said. Both Allen and Selph said they were not given a reason they were fired, but Selph said he felt it was because he raised questions about the operation of the board.
Selph said he filed a complaint with the Executive Branch Ethics Commission and that there is an ongoing investigation into his claim. Selph says because of the questions he raised, he’s “known since May that my employment here was month to month.”
The Executive Branch Ethics Commission cannot confirm or deny whether there is an ongoing investigation, according to executive director Kathryn Gabhart.
Full Article: Kentucky Board of Elections fires director and assistant director | Lexington Herald Leader.