VANCEBURG —
Milt Stanfield has done a lot in his 68 years: construction worker, truck driver, bulldozer operator, barber.
The Tollesboro resident and Lewis County District 1 magistrate was given a new title Tuesday: temporary judge-executive during a less-than-five-minute special meeting. Stanfield replaces Republican Fourth Congressional District candidate and former Judge-Executive Thomas Massie, who resigned Friday.
“I will do my best to do what all you need,” Stanfield said. “That’s all I can do. I appreciate you all having faith in me.”
Stanfield, also a Republican, has been a magistrate since 1993. He’s lived in Lewis County all his life, and he talked about why he never left.
“Lewis County’s a beautiful county,” he said. “We just wanted to see the county do better.”
On Tuesday, District 2 Magistrate Paul Swearingen said Stanfield was the obvious choice.
“From the time I heard (of Massie’s resignation), I thought the senior magistrate should do this,” Swearingen said. “He’s the most experienced. It’s only fair he should be the one to do it.”
Stanfield did not say if he would follow Massie’s plans.
“Some of them we will, some we won’t,” Stanfield said.
Gov. Steve Beshear has 30 days to name a formal replacement to serve until the Nov. 6 general election, when there will be a special ballot.
Massie did not attend the special meeting. He said he’s spoken with Beshear officials, and he hopes the governor will select someone with the most continuity with what Massie has done, be it a Republican or Democrat.
“I’m looking forward to working with whoever he puts in there,” Massie said Monday. “So rather than trying to endorse somebody when there’s not even an election, I’ll just respect the fact that he’s going to make a decision. I’ll certainly work with either party.”
Stanfield will continue to be paid his annual magistrate’s salary of a little more than $13,000. He said a new District 1 magistrate would not be named unless Beshear, a Democrat, let Stanfield stay as judge-executive.
When Stanfield was asked if he was interested in running in November, he said he hadn’t thought much about it.
“I don’t have an idea,” Stanfield said. “(Beshear’s) probably going to put someone who can win in the fall. Lewis County is predominantly Republican.”
RAY SHAEFFER is a freelance writer who lives in Maysville.
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