EKY judge-executive announces sudden retirement to draw state pension
Magoffin County Judge-Executive Matt Wireman will retire and vacate his office Dec. 31, but he says he is still running in the 2026 election and taking a 12-month hiatus to prevent voiding his pension benefits.
Wireman’s term expires at the end of 2026, but he told the Herald-Leader he wants to structure his retirement to ensure his family is protected by survivorship benefits and help pay his daughter’s college tuition.
“This is my community,” Wireman said. “I love my community. I want to see it continue to grow. And it has, I believe, under my administration, for the last seven years.”
Elected officials void their public pension benefits under state law if they are elected to the same office within a year of their retirement. By leaving his office vacant Wednesday, Wireman could return Jan. 1, 2027, eligible to draw a pension if he is elected in November.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has 30 days to appoint someone to fill out the remainder of the term. Wireman, who is a Democrat, said his office is already in communication with the governor’s office.
Until the appointment is made, the Magoffin County Fiscal Court will elect one of its members to assume the duties of judge-executive.
Wireman, 56, said his decision is not motivated by politics. He said he is not “scared of losing” next year’s election.
“I intend to run and win,” he told the Herald-Leader.
“This is not a goodbye,” Wireman said. “It’s a brief pause.”
He was first elected judge-executive in 2018 after serving nearly two decades as finance director for a public school district in neighboring Floyd County.
He and former Judge-Executive Charles “Doc” Hardin are the only two candidates who have filed to run in the 2026 Magoffin County judge-executive race. Hardin’s administration was embroiled in controversy, highlighted by his decision to hire an assistant with a felony vote-buying conviction and evidence of fraud in the 2014 primary.
Kentucky’s candidate filing deadline for 2026 is 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9.
