Magoffin County Judge-Executive Charles “Doc” Hardin has hired a man with a felony vote-buying conviction to be an administrative assistant in his office.
Randy Salyer was convicted in federal court of buying votes in the November 2010 general election.
A judge ordered Salyer to report to prison in January 2012. He was released in July 2013, according to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Hardin, whose 2014 re-election has been contested in court, announced at a fiscal court meeting on Aug. 19 that he had hired Salyer.
The decision didn’t sit well with some.
“It’s a slap in the face to everyone in our county and to the judicial system,” said Magistrate Matt Wireman. “It’s unbelievable.”
Wireman said he was surprised by the decision. However, Hardin had the authority to hire Salyer without approval from magistrates, Wireman said.
