Phillips resigns as District 2 Magistrate

By Eugenia Jones {Editor}
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After serving as McCreary County’s District 2 Magistrate for the past 20 ½ years, Roger Phillips announced his resignation effective Monday, June 26, 2023.  Citing health issues as the reason for his resignation, Phillips tendered his resignation in a letter delivered to County Court Clerk Eric Haynes, Judge Executive Jimmie “Bevo” Greene, Fiscal Court, and the office of Governor Andy Beshear.

In his resignation letter, Phillips thanked the residents of his district and the many people he has worked with on Fiscal Court throughout the years.  Noting the county and his district achieved many accomplishments during his tenure, Phillips expressed regret over resigning but noted he feels his resignation is in the best interest of himself and his family.

During his more than two decades on Fiscal Court, Phillips worked alongside three judge executives.

“We are definitely going to feel the loss of Magistrate Phillips,” current McCreary County Judge Executive Jimmie “Bevo” Greene said.  “We appreciate his service over the last twenty years.  He has contributed a lot to the county.  We will definitely miss him.

According to the Secretary of State’s Director of Communications, Michon Lindstrom, Phillips’ vacancy will be filled initially by an appointee of the Governor.  Lindstrom noted Kentucky Revised Statue (KRS) 63.220 mandates that the county judge/executive fill vacancies in the offices of sheriff, coroner, surveyor, county clerk, county attorney, jailer, or constable.  Lindstrom continued by referencing KRS 63.190 which designates that, in every other case where there is no other provision of law for the filling of a vacancy in any office, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the Governor.  According to Lindstrom, KRS 63.190 applies to magistrates.  Later, procedures for the election of a magistrate to replace the Governor’s appointee will follow guidelines established in Section 152 of the Kentucky Constitution