The recently fired executive director of the county’s housing authority claimed in his appeal to the state he was fired because of his political affiliations and his age.

The Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Butler County on March 13 fired Perry O’Malley, accusing him of using authority resources for personal and private business endeavors that are a conflict of interest to the authority.

O’Malley denied the authority’s allegations in his appeal request to the state Civil Service Commission, saying he had no prior disciplinary action in his 23 years with the authority.

“My removal was not based upon job performance or failure to comply with stated policies but instead was a politically motivated act of discrimination based upon my age and political views,” O’Malley said in his appeal letter.

The commission on Wednesday granted O’Malley’s appeal a hearing, which likely will be held in Pittsburgh. A date for that hearing has not been set.