The public hearing concerning the removal of a Kentucky city commissioner accused of sending a text message containing derogatory remarks about a female candidate for police chief has been rescheduled.

The public hearing for a Frankfort City Commissioner Kyle Thompson accused of alleged misconduct has been moved from Thursday at 10 a.m. to Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 1 p.m.

Thompson is alleged to have sent a text message containing derogatory remarks about a female candidate for Frankfort Police Department chief during her interview with city leaders in December.

According to City Clerk Chermie Maxwell, Thompson requested a continuance and counsel and the Board of Commissioners agreed to move the date of his public hearing. A venue for the public hearing has yet to be determined.

City Solicitor Laura Ross issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon that the hearing will be conducted in a public location and made accessible for public viewing via the city’s social media pages and Frankfort Plant Board Cable 10.

“The intent of the hearing is to consider the removal of Commissioner Kyle Thompson from the office of City Commissioner for alleged misconduct, pursuant to KRS 83A.040(9),” Ross stated.

“The decision whether to remove the Commissioner or take other action will be made by the Board of Commissioners at the conclusion of this trial-type hearing.”

The city commission, at its Jan. 10 work session, unanimously voted to proceed with a public hearing for Thompson after approving the following written charges against him:

• Sending a text message during a private interview with a candidate pertaining to that candidate to a private citizen who is not a member of the Board of Commissioners may constitute misconduct.

• The content of the text message containing derogatory remarks about the candidate may constitute misconduct.

A sworn affidavit submitted by a Frankfort resident on Dec. 20 asserts that Thompson texted derogatory comments about the female police chief candidate while actively engaged with the interviewee on the morning of Dec. 16.

The State Journal obtained a copy of the text message via an open records request. In the text, Thompson accuses the female police chief candidate of engaging in sexual activities with officers who she would supervise.

Due to the graphic content described in the text message, the newspaper has made a conscious decision not to publish it verbatim.