UPDATED: New Whitley Jailer resigns after only a week on the job; cites financial constraints

Whitley County has a new jailer, who – for good reason – looks an awful lot like its former Jailer.

Ken Mobley, who left office as jailer at the first of the year, was sworn in as interim jailer about 11 a.m. Monday to replace Les Moses, who formally resigned minutes earlier.

"To whom it may concern, effective 1/10/11, I, Les Moses, do hereby tender my resignation as the Jailer of Whitley County, Kentucky. Thank you. Sincerely, Les Moses," Moses wrote in his resignation letter.

Mobley and Whitley County Judge-Executive Pat White Jr. said they were both contact by Moses Saturday, who announced his intentions to resign.

Both said that they tried unsuccessfully Saturday, Sunday and Monday to get Moses to reconsider.

"This decision was made after careful consideration and deliberations pertaining to my abilities to meet the goals as I outlined in my campaign seeking this office," Moses said in a press release. "Due to financial restraints within the current and potential future budgets, I believe that it is in the best interest that I resign my position as jailer."

Moses noted in the release that he asked White to reappointment Mobley as his successor due to Mobley’s "vast experience and expertise" in the field of corrections.

"I believe that Mr. Mobley will be able to address the issues related to the Detention Center that will serve the best interest of the county," Moses wrote in the release. "My decision to recommend Mr. Mobley is based upon how our friendship and mutual respect for each other developed during the election and transition process.

"I appreciate the support of the voters of Whitley County and I feel this decision will serve the best interest of the voters."
White admits that he was "shocked" by Moses decision.

"Based on my meetings with Les, I thought that he was doing well. He was very deliberate in his actions, and very thoughtful in the approach that he was taking at the jail," White said.

"I really was hopeful about the job he was going to do."

White said that some people might have appointed someone under them to run the jail, and still draw the jailer’s salary, which is something that Moses didn’t do.

"I think Les is a good and honorable man. He really was looking out for what he thought was in the best interest of the county to see someone else run, who could better handle it," White said.

White said that he met with Mobley Sunday evening to discuss Moses’ wishes on his replacement, and because Mobley was the "most qualified person" to run the jail.

"We discussed some issues, and the direction that the jail needed to go. He came in this morning, and was sworn in as the interim jailer until the election can be held."

Election process

Whitley County Clerk Kay Schwartz said that Mobley’s appointment will be until the next regularly scheduled general election, which is in November.

Schwartz said that unlike most elections, candidates won’t be able to file to run for the jailer’s position.

Instead, the Republican Party and the Democratic Party will each nominate a candidate by Aug. 9 at 4 p.m., whose name will appear on the November ballot.

"People can’t come in to file. It is not open or anything like that. The Republican and Democratic parties have to appoint someone to be on the ballot," Schwartz said.

After the November election results are certified, Schwartz said that the winner will assume office at that point and serve out the remainder of Moses term, which runs through the end of 2013.

Mobley said that he is interested in filling out the remainder of the term.

"I’m here until the General Election. If the county wants me back in, I will be here the rest of his term," Mobley said.

Moses officially took over as jailer when he was sworn in about 2 p.m. on Jan. 2.

Schwartz said that in her nearly 36 years of working in the clerk’s office, she can "never" remember anyone resigning just days into their term of office.