COVINGTON — An estimated $40,000 that Kenton County improperly paid into the state retirement system on behalf of county magistrates is coming back to the county.

        Kenton County Commissioner Adam Koenig, a Villa Hills Republican running for re-election, initiated the action. He trumpeted the return of the money in a news release he issued Tuesday titled “Koenig saves taxpayer dollars.”

        “I am glad this money, which should not have been paid in the first place, is coming back to Kenton County,” he said in the release.

        But the lawyer for Kenton County Magistrate Steve Hoffman, a Crescent Springs Democrat, charged Tuesday that Mr. Koenig played politics with the issue and is ultimately after the money Mr. Hoffman makes from performing weddings at his office down the block from the Kenton County Courthouse.“This is all about politics,” said Erlanger lawyer Bob Hoffman, who is Steve Hoffman's father.

        “Mr. Koenig himself aspires to get Steve's business, so they are doing everything they can to knock him down and knock him out of office.”

        The Hoffmans charge that Mr. Koenig and the Kenton County Republican Party recruited a Villa Hills Republican — Linda Geisselbrecht — to run against Steve Hoffman this fall.

        The Hoffmans claim if Ms. Geisselbrecht wins, then Mr. Koenig can pick up some of the business Steve Hoffman now receives performing weddings.

        Mr. Koenig called the charges “laughable.”

        “That couldn't be further from the truth,” Mr. Koenig said. “We wanted a strong Republican ticket, so we got Linda Geisselbrecht into the race.”

        Ms. Geisselbrecht could not be reached.

        Mr. Koenig confirmed he has been authorized by Kenton County Judge-executive Dick Murgatoryd to perform weddings, which is the main function of magistrates. Judge-executives are also permitted to perform weddings.

        “But that's not what this is about,” Mr. Koenig said.

        Steve Hoffman has previously said he brings in about $70,000 a year performing weddings, though his attorney said the magistrate still must pay expenses, including rent on his Covington office and other expenses.

        Steve Hoffman has also paid into the state retirement system for the 13 years he has held office. Kenton County has matched Mr. Hoffman's contribution, as it does for other county employees or elected officials who draw a salary.

        But because Mr. Hoffman is not paid a salary as a magistrate — his income comes from the money he charges for weddings — he is not eligible to participate in the state retirement system, according to a legal opinion the county received Sept. 3 from Jennifer Jones, a lawyer for the Kentucky Retirement Systems in Frankfort.

        Bob Hoffman did not have an exact figure on how much his son has paid into the retirement system, but said he does plan to appeal the retirement system's action in Franklin County Circuit Court in Frankfort.

        Mr. Koenig said a state auditor will determine how much will be refunded, but he estimates that Mr. Hoffman and other magistrates have erroneously paid about $40,000 into the system.

        Asked if it means Mr. Hoffman and other magistrates will lose the money they've paid in, Mr. Koenig said, “It seems that way. I don't know if that's fair, but I know it's the right thing to do.”

        Bob Hoffman said he finds it ironic that Mr. Koenig is “making a big deal out of $40,000” when the Kenton County Fiscal Court has been “completely irresponsible” with the county's money, including paying $1.5 million for the 501 Main St. building in Covington.

        Democrats have criticized the purchase because the building is not fully leased and does not house the county offices originally proposed to move there.

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