Ky. Historical Society staffers say they were fired for questioning appointee’s sexual harassment past

Three Kentucky Historical Society staffers have been fired, and they say their ousters came after they complained about the appointment of a Kentucky politician who left his post while facing scrutiny over sexual harassment claims.

The Herald-Leader reviewed the three termination letters, which were dated Nov. 21. That’s six days before they were informed of their firing in-person by Scott Alvey, the historical society’s executive director.

The staffers said they took issue with the process surrounding the appointment of former Republican Kentucky House Speaker Jeff Hoover to the governing board of the Kentucky Historical Society.

Each employee’s letter said their “services are no longer needed,” and that they’ve been terminated without cause.

The fired employees were “non-merit.” Non-merit state employees serve at the pleasure of their employer, whereas “merit” employees may only be dismissed for cause after a formal process takes place.

Around 40 to 50 people are employed at the Kentucky Historical Society.

In an emailed response to questions about the firings, Alvey told the Herald-Leader he could not comment on personnel matters.

“Individuals who work at the Kentucky Historical Society are all non-merit/unclassified employees, not appointed by the Governor, who can be dismissed at any time without cause. We cannot comment on any individual personnel actions,” Alvey wrote.

The employees asked to not be identified. They discussed their firings with the Herald-Leader, but expressed fear of political retaliation or that the incident may jeopardize their ability to find new jobs.

Their complaints, the trio said, ranged from a perceived lack of transparency surrounding Hoover’s appointment to the propriety of putting someone with the former lawmaker’s past in a position of power. Some feared that Hoover’s appointment may jeopardize their work telling the stories of Kentuckians who have experienced sexual abuse.

None of the three fired staffers were in the same department. All of them told the Herald-Leader they were among the most vocal staff members raising questions about Hoover’s appointment – including in all-staff meetings, meetings with members of the society’s board, as well as discussions with supervisors.

Alvey has been with the historical society since 2008 and was named executive director in 2018.

In 2017, a year after winning the speaker’s gavel when Republicans flipped the Kentucky House from Democrats’ control for the first time in nearly a century, Hoover resigned from his post after news broke that he reached a legal settlement with a woman on his legislative staff over sexual harassment allegations.

In published reports at the time, the former staffer had accused Hoover and three other lawmakers of sexually harassing her between 2015 and 2017 and, in a statement provided under oath, also accused Hoover of groping her.

Hoover has denied any kind of “sexual relations” with the woman beyond texting her. He and other legislators sued her for allegedly breaking the terms of their $110,000 settlement. They later agreed to dismiss the suit.

Hoover has publicly asked for forgiveness and apologized for his actions. In recent years, the Russell County native has also made some waves by criticizing former Republican president Donald Trump and praising Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear.

When contacted about the employees’ termination, Hoover told the Herald-Leader it was “news to” him.

“I know nothing about it. I was asked a couple of months ago or so by some members on the governing board if I would consider serving on the board. After some thought, I agreed to do so,” Hoover said. “I absolutely know nothing about any personnel action. And as I understand it, thankfully, the governing board has nothing to do with personnel.’

Hoover’s name was first brought forward by the Kentucky Historical Society board’s nominating committee, which is chaired by Tommy Turner, former judge-executive of LaRue County.

Unlike many other state boards, whose ranks are appointed by governors and other high-ranking state officials, Kentucky Historical Society governing board members are proposed by a nominating committee and elected by the full membership of the historical society.

In addition to creating museum programming and providing educational materials, the Kentucky Historical Society runs the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, the Old State Capitol and the Kentucky Military History Museum in downtown Frankfort.

Turner, in an interview with the Herald-Leader, said he was the person who asked Hoover to join the Kentucky Historical Society governing board.

He said Hoover, who hosts a history-focused podcast and radio show that discusses Russell County history, provides an important perspective on the board. There were no members from the Lake Cumberland region, Turner said.

“He is really involved in the history of the region there, which is very important because that was one of the few, if maybe not the only, regions of the state we had no representation,” Turner said.

Turner also stated that while he’s not privy to personnel matters, he believes that there’s likely more to the story than what’s being claimed by the ousted staffers.