CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A Lincoln County magistrate has been accused of making her former assistant do campaign work on government time.
In a complaint filed in Kanawha Circuit Court, Heather Lucas says Magistrate Kim Lovejoy Clayton and her husband forced her to do the work. Not only is it improper to work on a campaign during work time — even voluntarily — it is illegal to do so on government time and resources.
The complaint also names the employer, the state Supreme Court, as a defendant.
The complaint says Lucas was asked to do things such as address campaign mailers during her work hours in Clayton’s Hamlin office. Lucas says she initially refused before the magistrate threatened her job if she did not comply.
According to the complaint, Clayton told Lucas, “Your job is to work for me. Be quiet, do your job, shut your mouth or you will be fired.”
Clayton’s husband, Danny, echoed those words, the complaint goes on.
“You better do what she tells you to do,” the suit claims her husband said.
Lucas says Clayton also demanded that she put a campaign sign in her yard and magnet campaign signs on her car. She says she refused to do those things because she does not share Clayton’s political views.
Lucas has not worked in Clayton’s office for several months, according to a courthouse source.
In her answer, Clayton denies the allegations and seeks to have the case dismissed.
Clayton was re-elected Magistrate in 2020. She is a former Lincoln County school administrator and coach.