Fayette County has a judge-executive after months-long vacancy. Here’s why it matters.

A former Fayette County judge-executive has been appointed by Gov. Matt Bevin to assume the role again after the position remained empty for more than two months.

Jon Larson, who has practiced criminal law for more than 40 years, is expected to hold the appointed office until the conclusion of the midterm election in November. Larson was sworn in Tuesday afternoon. Although the role of judge executive is limited in Fayette County, the lack of a full-time head of the county government had caused some head aches.

“I’m honored to receive this appointment from Gov. Bevin,” Larson said in a statement. “I’m humbled to be able to return to public service to continue the work that we started in my previous tenure — and that was continued by John Roberts and Tom Dupree — on behalf of the taxpayers of Fayette County.”

The position has been vacant since November 2017, when Tom Dupree Jr. resigned. Dupree had been appointed by Bevin after the prior judge-executive, John Roberts, died in January 2017.

Larson is one of four people who have filed to run for the office of Fayette County judge-executive in the November election. He served in the office from 2011 to 2014.

Larson has previously said he wanted to abolish the office of judge-executive for Fayette County. In a merged city-county government like the ones in Fayette and Jefferson counties, the roles of a county judge-executive are limited.

The roles played by the judge-executive in Fayette County include appointing replacements for vacancies in certain county offices and appointing members of the board of tax appeals. Larson said Wednesday one of his first tasks will be to set meetings for the fiscal court, which must approve rural road projects.

“The other major duty of the office is to approve extraditions for fugitives,” Larson said.

Larson said he also must appoint and swear in members of the board of tax appeals. Larson said Wednesday he will still push for the duties of the Fayette County judge-executive to be absorbed by the mayor’s office and other city or county officials.

The winner of the next election for judge-executive will take office in January 2019.

Bevin’s office also announced the appointment of Kevin Akers as county commissioner for the third district of Fayette County.

Akers has worked as operations manager for Community Trust Bank since 2002 and volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and Boy Scouts of America, according to the governor’s office.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve, and I appreciate the Governor’s confidence in me,” Akers said. “I will do my best to be an effective steward of the public’s trust.”

Akers is also expected to hold his appointed office until November elections.

This story was originally published February 6, 2018 at 8:04 PM with the headline "Fayette County has a judge-executive after months-long vacancy. Here’s why it matters.."