Grant County judge-executive apologizes amid calls for resignation

WILLIAMSTOWN, Ky. - Grant County Judge-executive Stephen Wood apologized Monday for his sexist and politically frank comments videotaped during a meeting earlier this year. But that didn't quell the feeling by some in the audience of the Grant County Fiscal Court meeting that Wood and his top assistant should resign.

"If someone had said that 20 years ago in our county, he would have been tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail," said lifelong Williamstown resident Larry Simpson, one of several constituents who spoke publicly Monday night about the scandal. "He should resign ... if he had any morals, he should resign."

During the Feb. 14 meeting, Wood and his top assistant, Scott Kimmich, were discussing the budget and payroll for the Grant County jail with newly elected Jailer Chris Hankins and his top assistant and brother Jason Hankins. During that meeting, which was videotaped as part of normal jail procedure, the group discussed the political ramifications of dismissing a long-time county employee. At the end of the meeting, Wood used crude and sexist language to say how he would like a younger, more attractive replacement.

Crude comments, age behind firing?

In front of a larger-than-normal crowd at the Grant County Courthouse Monday, both Wood and Kimmich apologized for the statements.

"I am sorry for what I have done ... I'll let you all take your shots at me, but you can't beat me up any worse than I have beaten myself up," Wood said. "I really stepped over the line."

When pressed by crowd members, Kimmich also said he was sorry for the discussion. Wood brought Kimmich on as a top assistant soon after being elected last fall.

"I apologize to anyone I may have offended," said Kimmich, who earns a salary of $55,000 annually as the county's top administrator.

Both men left the fiscal court meeting through a back door and did not comment further. Connie McClure-Ellington, the woman discussed in the earlier meeting, is seeking $750,000 in damages from the county over the comments. The jail is the center of two other ongoing lawsuits, and the county has already paid out more than $500,000 from previous lawsuits over conditions for inmates and sexual harassment.

Grant County Democrats have previously said they were considering asking Wood to resign, but Wood steadfastly has said he was not stepping down. If he were to resign, newly inaugurated Gov. Matt Bevin, a fellow Republican, would appoint his replacement.

When asked if Wood and Kimmich should resign, all three Republican members of the fiscal court declined comment. Two magistrates, Shawna Coldiron and Bobby Newman, did not respond to reporters' questions.

A third magistrate, Jacqalynn Riley, also declined comment on the resignation issue, but in a statement said that she was "saddened" by the comments.

"I don't support such behavior/comments that were displayed in the most recent situation. Faith and confidence needs to be restored in order to move (in a) direction that puts the interest of our county and well-being of our citizens first," Riley said in her statement.

Jailer Chris Hankins declined to say whether Wood or Kimmich should resign. But the jailer is in a legal dispute with the pair over control of the jail. Earlier this year, Wood and Kimmich proposed a new organizational structure to the fiscal court without Hankins' input or approval, and Hankins has since asked the state attorney general's office for an opinion on the matter.

His brother Jason said he did not videotape the meeting as a way to "set up" Wood and Kimmich.

"I had met Steve Wood twice for maybe 5-10 minutes at a time before that," Jason Hankins said.

Monday's meeting also included a confrontation between Wood/Kimmich and deputy jailer Howard Chipman of Williamstown. Chipman has claimed that he was promised a raise and promotion to corporal by the previous jailer, later approved by Hankins. But in the February meeting, Kimmich used a vulgarity in stating Chipman would not be receiving that raise. Soon thereafter, Wood passed an executive order rescinding any previously promised raises within the jail.

"They are now accusing me of going behind their back because I went to Connie to see if I could get it straightened out ... we're talking about $1,500 in back pay, which is a lot of money for me," Chipman said.

Monday, Chris and Jason Hankins both supported Chipman's account of the story. During the meeting, Wood told Chipman he would look into the matter.