Kentucky elections board fires top 2 staff members

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) – The Kentucky State Board of Elections has fired its top two staff members, who say they were not provided with an explanation for their termination.

The Lexington Herald-Leader reports the board voted 3-2 on Tuesday to fire Executive Director Maryellen Allen, a Democrat, and Assistant to the Director Matthew Selph, a Republican. The board consists of three Democrats and three Republicans. One Republican member did not attend the meeting.

Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes, who chairs the board, said the decision was bipartisan and the staff members’ services were no longer needed.

Allen and Selph both said they weren’t given a reason, but Selph said he believes their termination is related to the complaint he’d filed with the Executive Branch Ethics Commission regarding the operations of the board.