County judge/executive

In the Commonwealth of Kentucky the County Judge/Executive is the top executive and leader of county government. The position is mandated by the constitution and may not be obolished. Elected by popular suffrage, the County Judge/Executive serves a four year term and may be re-elected indefinitely. Though wielding no judicial power, the County Judge/Executive is normally referred to as "The Judge," addressed as "your honor" and styled as "the honorable."

The County Judge/Executive is a voting member of the county's governmental body, called the Fiscal Court, and therefore also exercises legislative authority.

In other states similiar positions may be referred to as "County Executive," "County Commissioner," or, informally, "County Boss."

In Kentucky's consolidated city-county governments, premiere executive power is exercised by either the Metro Mayor (i.e. Louisville) or the Urban-County Mayor (i.e. Lexington). Though these counties retain, and fill by election, their offices of County Judge/Executive, in such cases the position retains little executive and no legislative authority.

References

Kentucky Constitution. Section 144: Legislative Research Commission. 1891.{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: location (link)