Charleston - Huntington, West Virginia -- WOWK -- 13NewsLincoln County to hire interim sheriff from within department

Lincoln County will promote from within its sheriff's department, rather than giving the soon-to-be-open sheriff's position to an outsider.

That was one of the decisions made at Thursday's Lincoln County Commission meeting.

Three candidates who will appear on the May ballot were at the meeting, but commissioner Charles Vance said he would not be willing to vote for any outsider, giving them an incumbency ahead of the election.

Sheriff Jerry Bowman and County Clerk Donald Whitten have agreed to plead guilty to charges stemming from election fraud in the 2010 Democratic Primary.

While only two have been named, federal investigators said others will be implicated, including a yet to be named County Commissioner.

"Hopefully all of those that are involved are caught," said County Commissioner Charles Vance. "We don't need two like before and have the rest stick around until everyone forgets and they can do it again."

Commission President Charles McCann told the audience he was not under investigation. Vance was not involved in the 2010 election. Commissioner Thomas Ramey, who was not at Thursday's meeting, is the only remaining commissioner. No charges have been filed and investigators have not identified the others involved in the vote fraud scheme.

Neither Bowman nor Whitten have been to work since the investigation was made public.