FILE: Aaron Shirley speaks during a forum held at the Historic Plaza Theatre on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022.
(BRENNAN CRAIN/WCLU NEWS)
By BRENNAN D. CRAIN, WCLU News
GLASGOW — Barren County Jailer-elect Aaron Shirley will assume the role of jailer sooner than expected.
Barren County Jailer Aaron Bennett is expected to resign effective this Saturday. His last day as jailer is Friday, Dec. 23.
Judge/Executive Micheal Hale issued an executive order on Wednesday, which explained Bennett’s plan to resign effectively on Dec. 24. The county judge/executive reserves the power by law to name a replacement for the remainder of the term. Shirley was appointed to fill the unexpired term, which is slated to end on Dec. 31.
“I just thank Barren county for the opportunity to serve them since 2005,” Bennett said in a text message to WCLU News on Wednesday afternoon.
Bennett did not have any additional comments. He did not specify why he resigned.
Shirley said he was alerted of Bennett’s resignation and agreed to work, essentially, the last full week of his term. Shirley was sworn in by Barren Circuit Judge John T. Alexander on Wednesday, he said. He had previously taken the oath of office for his term beginning next month but had to take a separate oath to complete Bennett’s term.
“It’s just one step at a time,” Shirley said. “The main thing is just getting in there and seeing what we have and how we can make it better than how we found it.”
Shirley was nominated as the Republican candidate in the Barren County primary election. Bennett, also a Republican, was not re-elected after his first term.
