Beshear appoints attorney to Eastern KY judge-executive spot ahead of 2026 race

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has appointed Salyersville attorney Don McFarland to serve as Magoffin County judge-executive for the remainder of 2026.

McFarland replaces former Judge-Executive Matt Wireman, who abruptly retired and vacated the office Dec. 31 to prevent voiding his pension benefits.

Wireman, a Democrat who served nearly two terms as the county’s chief executive, is still running to reclaim his seat. He will face one of two Republican opponents in November.

Former Judge-Executive Charles “Doc” Hardin,” whose administration was embroiled in controversy over an election vote-buying scandal and alleged fraud, is running against Dewey Thomas Howard.

Magoffin County, about 100 miles east of Lexington in the Kentucky’s eastern coalfields region, is one of the state’s most impoverished, ranking nearly last according to investment income, property value and median income.

McFarland, 56, who is also a registered Democrat, has been a civil litigation lawyer in the county for more than 30 years. He served two terms as county attorney and has been counsel for Magoffin County Public Schools, as well as the former water works department.

He said he was honored by the governor’s appointment, but he sees his role as judge-executive much like that of a substitute teacher. He did not file to run in the coming election.

“I’m filling in until the permanent position can be elected,” he told the Herald-Leader Wednesday. “But I don’t want it to just be that. If there’s anything I can do to help generate jobs, to help grow the county and to improve infrastructure, I’m glad to do it.”

Magoffin County is an entryway point to the Bert T. Combs Mountain Parkway that connects the easternmost reaches of the state to Lexington and broader Central Kentucky. The county is primed to serve as a generator for major industries like transportation and supplies, McFarland said. But that hasn’t yet happened, and he said he believes it will take creative strategies on the part of county leaders to lobby for change.

The county’s coal-mining heritage means many workers are dues-paying union members who travel great distance for trade jobs. McFarland said he wants to generate opportunities for them to work closer to home.

Building on the county’s successes in K-12 education, and a $2 million build-ready industrial park will be crucial to turning the tide, McFarland said.

“We have enormous workforce potential here,” he said. “There are jobs that in very, very high demand; they’re so needed, and hopefully they will come to fruition here.”

The governor’s office did not immediately respond to a Herald-Leader request for comment Wednesday.