Beshear Appoints Epperson Judge

Breathitt County has a new Judge Executive twenty-six days after the death of Jeff Noble on October 15.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear signed Executive Order Number 2026-728 on November 10, making the appointment of Hargis Epperson official.

Epperson, upon receiving official notification of the appointment, was sworn in at the Breathitt County Fiscal Courtroom at the courthouse by County Court Clerk Becky W. Curtis just after noon.

“I appreciate the confidence that Governor Beshear and the people of Breathitt County have placed in me,” Epperson said.  “It is a very humbling experience, and I will do my very best to honor that trust.”

A Democrat, Epperson defeated Tim Spencer, a Republican candidate, during the November 3 General Election.  He carried nine of ten voting centers and received 2,356 votes.  His term was set to begin on the first Monday in January (January 4).  However, with the death of Judge Jeff Noble, Epperson was appointed to fill the seat a little under two months early. 

According to the Governor’s Executive Order, Epperson is empowered under the provisions of Section 152 of the Kentucky Constitution and Section 67.750 of the Kentucky Revised Statutes to perform all of the duties of the office of County Judge Executive.

As soon as he dropped his right hand after taking the oath, Epperson wasted no time in getting to work.

His first action was to appoint his replacement as Coroner. 

Jason Hall, of Jackson, who cruised to victory in the General Election, was appointed to fill Epperson’s remaining term through the end of the year.  He will begin his elected term in January.

Epperson met with county officials for the rest of the day on Tuesday and began his analysis of “where the county is” when he took office to begin implementing his plans for county government. 

He has already met with Jackson Mayor-elect Ken Spicer and Kentucky State Senator Brandon Smith to discuss the county’s needs and plans.  Epperson said that more meetings were planned, including another combined conference this week with Spicer and State Representative Chris Fugate.  Meetings with other state and federal officials will follow.

“We have to have grants to keep the county moving forward,” Epperson said.  “We are working together to go after every source of possible funding that we can find.”     

In a short interview on Tuesday evening, after a long first day at the courthouse, Epperson said he planned to focus on several primary goals in addition to the county’s and its departments’ day-to-day efforts.

“We need jobs,” Epperson said, “and that is a hard thing to accomplish.”  “We want our people to come back home and stay here to help grow our community, but we have to have jobs, first and foremost,” he added.  Epperson said he planned to work with “anyone and everyone” to bring as many jobs to Breathitt County as possible.

The lack of adequate housing was the second most important issue Epperson said that the county faced.  “We have to have places for our people to live,” he explained.  “We plan to work very hard to get more housing going,” he said. 

He also identified the need for more service-based industries, including tourism and other opportunities to draw visitors to the area.  He cited the need for accommodation and restaurants as a primary need.  “We plan to continue and expand the efforts at the Elk View on South Fork to bring tourists and their financial support to the county,” the new judge said.

“We want to continue the Elk View work and dream bigger with bicycling, hiking, and additional trails in the area as well as an auditorium at the site.”  He explained that the effort would also require adding camping and RV sites to provide places to stay during activities.  “If we are going to have big events and big attractions there, we need to continue to work together to develop that site.”

“I am a firm believer in the need for a multi-purpose building in Breathitt County,” he said.  “We need it, and I have been talking with the incoming city officials to work together to continue the work that has already been completed on the concept.”

The new county executive said that the county government, under his leadership, would “take a very diverse approach” to seeking funding and planning for places and events during his term.  He mentioned his hope to build several rural parks across the county to serve remote sections. 

“These things take time, and they certainly do not happen overnight,” Epperson said.  “We have to commit ourselves to working together to get things done.”

“I appreciate the confidence and trust of the people of the county, and now it’s time to get started and work together to make our county better,” he noted. 

Epperson becomes the 24th person appointed or elected, 22 men and two women, to fill the office of Breathitt County Judge Executive since 1900.