Clark County Judge-Executive Resigns, Cites Upcoming Election

Les Yates steps down, says he doesn't want to waste taxpayer money while running for state legislature

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Clark County Judge-Executive Les Yates has resigned from his position, citing an upcoming election for a Kentucky House of Representatives seat as the main reason. Yates, who is currently running for the 73rd District seat, said he felt it would be "hypocritical" to continue receiving a county salary while campaigning for another office.

Why it matters

Yates' resignation highlights the challenges and potential conflicts of interest that can arise when elected officials seek higher offices. His decision to step down reflects a desire to be transparent and avoid any perception of misusing taxpayer funds.

The details

Yates said he made the decision to resign about a week ago and met with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear's senior advisor Rocky Adkins on March 4 to submit his resignation. Yates also addressed concerns about a bridge project on Red River Road, noting that the railroad company CSX, which owns the bridge, has been slow to approve the necessary blueprints.

  • Yates resigned on Tuesday, March 4, 2026.
  • Yates met with Rocky Adkins on the morning of Wednesday, March 5, 2026 to submit his resignation.

The players

Les Yates

The former Clark County Judge-Executive who resigned his position to run for a seat in the Kentucky House of Representatives.

Rocky Adkins

The senior advisor to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who Yates met with to submit his resignation.

Michelle Turner

The Clark County Clerk, who was provided a copy of Yates' resignation.

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What they’re saying

“I just don't believe in wasting taxpayer dollars. What I was struggling with the most was (that) I felt a little hypocritical to be running for that office, and the taxpayers paying me a salary. I think that it's not right...if you want to run for another office, you should resign (from) the office you're in. I took the County Judge-Executive job to be a steward of the taxpayer dollars and not waste it.”

— Les Yates, Former Clark County Judge-Executive (Winchester Sun)

“Whatever I can do to help Clark County, at that level, I can help every county in the state of Kentucky.”

— Les Yates, Former Clark County Judge-Executive (Winchester Sun)

What’s next

The Kentucky Governor's office will need to appoint a new Clark County Judge-Executive to serve out the remainder of Yates' term.

The takeaway

Yates' resignation highlights the importance of elected officials maintaining transparency and avoiding conflicts of interest when seeking higher offices. His decision to step down reflects a commitment to responsible governance and the prudent use of taxpayer funds.