DAVIS, Chief Justice.
David Hopkins, appellant/respondent below (hereinafter referred to as “Mr. Hopkins”), appeals an order of the Circuit Court of Nicholas County. The Nicholas County Circuit Court reversed a decision by the Nicholas County Deputy Sheriffs Civil Service Commission (hereinafter referred to as “the Commission”) to reinstate Mr. Hopkins as a deputy sheriff for the Nicholas County Sheriffs Department. . The circuit court found in favor of David J. Meadows, Sheriff of Nicholas County, appellee/petitioner below (hereinafter referred to as “Mr. Meadows”), by ruling that the Commission did not have statutory authority to reinstate Mr. Hopkins to the position of deputy sheriff.1 Here, Mr. Hopkins contends that the Commission has the exclusive authority to reinstate him as a deputy sheriff. Based upon the parties’ arguments on appeal, the record designated for appellate review, and the pertinent authorities, we reverse the decision of the Nicholas County Circuit Court.
I.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
In September 1997, Mr. Hopkins was hired as a deputy sheriff by Mr. Meadows. Thereafter, in November 1999, Mr. Hopkins voluntarily resigned his position as a deputy sheriff to run for the office of Sheriff of Nicholas County. Mr. Hopkins lost the May 2000 Democratic Primary Election to Mr. Meadows.
On October 2, 2000, Mr. Hopkins submitted a letter to the Commission and Mr. Meadows requesting that he be reinstated as a deputy sheriff. At the time of the request, Mr. Meadows had a vacancy for a deputy sheriff. On February 5, 2001, the Commission held a hearing to consider Mr. Hopkins’ request. Thereafter, the Commission issued an order reinstating Mr. Hopkins as a deputy sheriff.
Mr. Meadows challenged the Commission’s reinstatement order in circuit court. The circuit court stayed the order of reinstatement and remanded the ease to the Commission for the taking of additional evidence. As a result of the remand, the Commission held a second hearing. On April 4, 2001, the Commission issued a second order reinstating Mr. Hopkins as a deputy sheriff.
[384]*384Again, Mi'. Meadows appealed the Commission’s reinstatement order to the circuit court. The circuit court held a hearing on May 22, 2001. On June 29, 2001, the circuit court entered an order finding that the Commission had no authority to reinstate Mr. Hopkins to the position of deputy sheriff. The order instructed the Commission that it could only consider placing Mr. Hopkins’ name on the list of three eligible candidates to be submitted to Mi’. Meadows for his hiring consideration. From this ruling, Mr. Hopkins appeals.
II.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
The issue presented in this ease requires an analysis of our statutes involving the hiring of deputies. We have held that “[w]here the issue on an appeal from the circuit court is clearly a question of law or involving an interpretation of a statute, we apply a de novo standard of review.” Syl. pt. 1, Chrystal R.M. v. Charlie A.L., 194 W.Va. 138, 459 S.E.2d 415 (1995). Moreover, “[e]videntiary findings made at an administrative hearing should not be reversed unless they are clearly wrong.” Syl. pt. 1, Francis O. Day Co., Inc. v. Director, Div. of Envtl. Prot., 191 W.Va. 134, 443 S.E.2d 602 (1994).
III.
DISCUSSION
The dispositive issue of this appeal is whether the Commission had authority, pursuant to W. Va.Code § 7-14-8 (1972) (Repl.Vol.2000), to reinstate Mr. Hopkins as a deputy sheriff. As a general matter, we note that “[c]ivil service commissions have no authority beyond that bestowed by statute or necessarily implied from such statute.” Syl. pt. 3, Liller v. West Virginia Human Rights Comm’n, 180 W.Va. 433, 376 S.E.2d 639 (1988). This Court has observed that “[w]hen interpreting a legislatively created law, we typically afford the statute a construction that is consistent with the Legislature’s intent.” Coordinating Council for Indep. Living, Inc. v. Palmer, 209 W.Va. 274, 281, 546 S.E.2d 454, 461 (2001). See Syl. pt. 1, Smith v. State Workmen’s Compensation Comm’r, 159 W.Va. 108, 219 S.E.2d 361 (1975) (“The primary object in construing a statute is to ascertain and give effect to the intent of the Legislature.”). We have also stated that “[a] statutory provision which is clear and unambiguous and plainly expresses the legislative intent will not be interpreted by the courts but will be given full force and effect.” Syl. pt. 2, State v. Epperly, 135 W.Va. 877, 65 S.E.2d 488 (1951). However, “[a] statute that is ambiguous must be construed before it can be applied.” Syl. pt. 1, Farley v. Buckalew, 186 W.Va. 693, 414 S.E.2d 454 (1992). Finally, we note that “[statutes which relate to the same persons or things, or to the same class of persons or things, or statutes which have a common purpose will be regarded in pari matena to assure recognition and implementation of the legislative intent.” Syl. pt. 5, in part, Fruehauf Corp. v. Huntington Moving & Storage Co., 159 W.Va. 14, 217 S.E.2d 907 (1975).
Mr. Hopkins contends that under W. Va. Code § 7-14-8, the Commission has the statutory authority to reinstate him to the position of deputy sheriff. The relevant language of W. Va.Code § 7-14-8 provides:
That in the event any applicant formerly served as a deputy sheriff for a period of more than six months in the county to which he makes application, and resigned as a deputy sheriff at a time when there were no charges of misconduct or other misfeasance pending against him, within a period of two years next preceding the date of his application, and at the time of his application resides within the county in which he seeks appointment by reinstatement, then such applicant shall be eligible for appointment by reinstatement in the discretion of the civil service commission, even though such applicant shall be over the age of forty-five years, provided he is not sixty-five years of age or over, and such applicant, providing his former term of service as a deputy sheriff so justifies, may be reappointed by reinstatement without a competitive examination, but such applicant shall undergo a medical examination; and if such applicant shall be so appointed by reinstatement as aforesaid, he shall be the lowest in rank in the sher[385]*385iffs office next above the probationers of the office.
(Emphasis added). Mr. Hopkins also contends that Justice Miller’s discussion in Lester v. Summerfield, 180 W.Va. 572, 378 S.E.2d 293 (1989), supports his position that W. Va.Code § 7-14-8 empowers the Commission to reinstate him to the position of deputy sheriff.
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DAVIS, Chief Justice.
David Hopkins, appellant/respondent below (hereinafter referred to as “Mr. Hopkins”), appeals an order of the Circuit Court of Nicholas County. The Nicholas County Circuit Court reversed a decision by the Nicholas County Deputy Sheriffs Civil Service Commission (hereinafter referred to as “the Commission”) to reinstate Mr. Hopkins as a deputy sheriff for the Nicholas County Sheriffs Department. . The circuit court found in favor of David J. Meadows, Sheriff of Nicholas County, appellee/petitioner below (hereinafter referred to as “Mr. Meadows”), by ruling that the Commission did not have statutory authority to reinstate Mr. Hopkins to the position of deputy sheriff.1 Here, Mr. Hopkins contends that the Commission has the exclusive authority to reinstate him as a deputy sheriff. Based upon the parties’ arguments on appeal, the record designated for appellate review, and the pertinent authorities, we reverse the decision of the Nicholas County Circuit Court.
I.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
In September 1997, Mr. Hopkins was hired as a deputy sheriff by Mr. Meadows. Thereafter, in November 1999, Mr. Hopkins voluntarily resigned his position as a deputy sheriff to run for the office of Sheriff of Nicholas County. Mr. Hopkins lost the May 2000 Democratic Primary Election to Mr. Meadows.
On October 2, 2000, Mr. Hopkins submitted a letter to the Commission and Mr. Meadows requesting that he be reinstated as a deputy sheriff. At the time of the request, Mr. Meadows had a vacancy for a deputy sheriff. On February 5, 2001, the Commission held a hearing to consider Mr. Hopkins’ request. Thereafter, the Commission issued an order reinstating Mr. Hopkins as a deputy sheriff.
Mr. Meadows challenged the Commission’s reinstatement order in circuit court. The circuit court stayed the order of reinstatement and remanded the ease to the Commission for the taking of additional evidence. As a result of the remand, the Commission held a second hearing. On April 4, 2001, the Commission issued a second order reinstating Mr. Hopkins as a deputy sheriff.
[384]*384Again, Mi'. Meadows appealed the Commission’s reinstatement order to the circuit court. The circuit court held a hearing on May 22, 2001. On June 29, 2001, the circuit court entered an order finding that the Commission had no authority to reinstate Mr. Hopkins to the position of deputy sheriff. The order instructed the Commission that it could only consider placing Mr. Hopkins’ name on the list of three eligible candidates to be submitted to Mi’. Meadows for his hiring consideration. From this ruling, Mr. Hopkins appeals.
II.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
The issue presented in this ease requires an analysis of our statutes involving the hiring of deputies. We have held that “[w]here the issue on an appeal from the circuit court is clearly a question of law or involving an interpretation of a statute, we apply a de novo standard of review.” Syl. pt. 1, Chrystal R.M. v. Charlie A.L., 194 W.Va. 138, 459 S.E.2d 415 (1995). Moreover, “[e]videntiary findings made at an administrative hearing should not be reversed unless they are clearly wrong.” Syl. pt. 1, Francis O. Day Co., Inc. v. Director, Div. of Envtl. Prot., 191 W.Va. 134, 443 S.E.2d 602 (1994).
III.
DISCUSSION
The dispositive issue of this appeal is whether the Commission had authority, pursuant to W. Va.Code § 7-14-8 (1972) (Repl.Vol.2000), to reinstate Mr. Hopkins as a deputy sheriff. As a general matter, we note that “[c]ivil service commissions have no authority beyond that bestowed by statute or necessarily implied from such statute.” Syl. pt. 3, Liller v. West Virginia Human Rights Comm’n, 180 W.Va. 433, 376 S.E.2d 639 (1988). This Court has observed that “[w]hen interpreting a legislatively created law, we typically afford the statute a construction that is consistent with the Legislature’s intent.” Coordinating Council for Indep. Living, Inc. v. Palmer, 209 W.Va. 274, 281, 546 S.E.2d 454, 461 (2001). See Syl. pt. 1, Smith v. State Workmen’s Compensation Comm’r, 159 W.Va. 108, 219 S.E.2d 361 (1975) (“The primary object in construing a statute is to ascertain and give effect to the intent of the Legislature.”). We have also stated that “[a] statutory provision which is clear and unambiguous and plainly expresses the legislative intent will not be interpreted by the courts but will be given full force and effect.” Syl. pt. 2, State v. Epperly, 135 W.Va. 877, 65 S.E.2d 488 (1951). However, “[a] statute that is ambiguous must be construed before it can be applied.” Syl. pt. 1, Farley v. Buckalew, 186 W.Va. 693, 414 S.E.2d 454 (1992). Finally, we note that “[statutes which relate to the same persons or things, or to the same class of persons or things, or statutes which have a common purpose will be regarded in pari matena to assure recognition and implementation of the legislative intent.” Syl. pt. 5, in part, Fruehauf Corp. v. Huntington Moving & Storage Co., 159 W.Va. 14, 217 S.E.2d 907 (1975).
Mr. Hopkins contends that under W. Va. Code § 7-14-8, the Commission has the statutory authority to reinstate him to the position of deputy sheriff. The relevant language of W. Va.Code § 7-14-8 provides:
That in the event any applicant formerly served as a deputy sheriff for a period of more than six months in the county to which he makes application, and resigned as a deputy sheriff at a time when there were no charges of misconduct or other misfeasance pending against him, within a period of two years next preceding the date of his application, and at the time of his application resides within the county in which he seeks appointment by reinstatement, then such applicant shall be eligible for appointment by reinstatement in the discretion of the civil service commission, even though such applicant shall be over the age of forty-five years, provided he is not sixty-five years of age or over, and such applicant, providing his former term of service as a deputy sheriff so justifies, may be reappointed by reinstatement without a competitive examination, but such applicant shall undergo a medical examination; and if such applicant shall be so appointed by reinstatement as aforesaid, he shall be the lowest in rank in the sher[385]*385iffs office next above the probationers of the office.
(Emphasis added). Mr. Hopkins also contends that Justice Miller’s discussion in Lester v. Summerfield, 180 W.Va. 572, 378 S.E.2d 293 (1989), supports his position that W. Va.Code § 7-14-8 empowers the Commission to reinstate him to the position of deputy sheriff.
Lester involved a petition for a writ of prohibition by members of a class of deputy sheriffs seeking to prohibit enforcement of a circuit court ruling that subjected them to lay-off. In Lester, the circuit court concluded that a deputy sheriff, who had been reappointed to his position following a two-year absence from the force, could use the date of his original appointment to provide him greater seniority for purposes of a lay-off. In granting the writ, this Court held in the single Syllabus point of Lester that, for layoff purposes, “[t]he term ‘appointment’ cannot be read to mean the date of original appointment for those deputy sheriffs who have been appointed by reinstatement under W. Va.Code, 7-14-8.” 180 W.Va. 572, 378 S.E.2d 293.
As a necessary step in rendering the Lester decision, we discussed the procedure to reinstate a deputy sheriff under W. Va.Code § 7-14-8. The Lester court stated:
At issue here is W. Va.Code, 7-14-8, which provides a procedure for reappointment of a former deputy.... The decision whether to reappoint a former deputy is entirely discretionary, as the statute places “eligib [ility] for appointment by reinstatement in the discretion of the civil service commission!!]”
There are significant advantages that accrue to a former deputy who utilizes this procedure. For example, a deputy sheriff appointed by reinstatement need not submit to the commission’s competitive examination. Second, the appointment decision in such cases is made directly by the commission, and not by the sheriff. Finally, the reinstated deputy is not required to undergo a probationary period.
It appears that W. Va.Code, 7-14-8, reflects a legislative policy to encourage deputy sheriffs who terminate them employment to return to public service. The reason for this policy is manifest: a trained deputy with prior field experience is a valuable asset to the county and additional costs in training him need not be incurred. W. Va.Code, 7-14-8, offers an incentive to apply for reinstatement by substantially easing the application process.
Lester, 180 W.Va. at 574-75, 378 S.E.2d at 295-96 (emphasis added; footnotes omitted).
In his response to Mr. Hopkins’ arguments, Mr. Meadows contends that the discussion of W. Va.Code § 7-14-8 set forth in Lester was dicta. Mr. Meadows further opines that W. Va.Code § 7-14-8 must be read in pari materia with the other civil service statutes pertaining to the appointment of deputies. Thus, he suggests, it is clear that the legislature did not intend to preclude sheriffs and county commissions from having the exclusive authority to hire deputies. We disagree.
The discussion in Lester of W. Va.Code § 7-14-8 was not mere dicta.2 To decide Lester, it was necessary to determine the implications of W. Va.Code § 7-14-8 vis-a-vis seniority. We were therefore obligated to review the statute in a substantive way. In reviewing the statute, the Court concluded that, under W. Va.Code § 7-14-8, “the appointment decision in such cases is made directly by the commission, and not by the sheriff.” Lester, 180 W.Va. at 574, 378 S.E.2d at 295.
For these reasons, we therefore hold that, pursuant to W. Va.Code § 7-14-8 (1972) (Repl.Vol.2000), the civil service commission for deputy sheriffs has exclusive discretionary authority to reinstate an applicant for deputy sheriff, who formerly served as a deputy sheriff, without either a competitive examination or the concurrence of the sheriff or county commission. We hold further that to make a deputy sheriffs reappointment valid, in accordance with W. Va.Code § 7-14-8 (1972) (Repl.Vol.2000), the civil service commission must specifically find that the applicant (1) served as a deputy sheriff for a period of more than six months in the county [386]*386in which he/she seeks reinstatement; (2) resigned as a deputy sheriff with no pending charges of misconduct or other misfeasance within a period of two years next preceding the date of his/her application for reinstatement; (S) resides within the county in which he/she seeks appointment by reinstatement at the time of his/her application; (4) is not sixty-five years of age or over; and (5) has undergone a medical examination.3
In contrast, Mr. Meadows asserts that it is the exclusive authority of a sheriff to appoint deputies pursuant to W. Va.Code § 7-14-11 (1971) (Repl.Vol.2000). Nevertheless, Mr. Meadows fails to recognize the critical language of W. Va.Code § 7-14-11, which expressly excludes from its application deputy sheriff appointments that are made “by promotion, reinstatement or reduction]/]”4 Clearly, then, the reinstatement exception in W. Va.Code § 7-14-11 has little meaning, unless read in pari materia with W. Va.Code § 7-14-8.
This Court is sensitive to and recognizes that the office of sheriff is a constitutional office that is filled by popular vote. See W. Va. Const., Art. IX, § 1 (“The voters of each county shall elect a ... sheriff]/]”). However, the state constitution does not vest authority in a sheriff to appoint deputy sheriffs. Rather, the authority of a sheriff to appoint deputy sheriffs is derived by statute. That is, the legislature has exclusive authority to determine the guidelines by which deputy sheriffs may be appointed. To this end, the legislature has given general authority to sheriffs to appoint deputy sheriffs under specific statutory guidelines. See W. Va.Code § 7-14-1, et seq. Through W. Va.Code § 7-14-8, though, the legislature has chosen to give the civil service commission exclusive authority to reinstate or reappoint a deputy sheriff. This Court has continually stressed, on numerous occasions, that “[i]t is not the province of the courts to make or supervise legislation, and a statute may not, under the guise of interpretation, be modified, revised, amended, distorted, remodeled, or rewritten]/]” State v. General Daniel Morgan Post No. 54-8, V.F.W., 144 W.Va. 137, 145, 107 S.E.2d 353, 358 (1959) (citation omitted). Moreover, “[t]he legislature is vested with a wide discretion in determining what the public interest requires, the wisdom of which may not be inquired into by the eourts[.]” Syl. pt. 1, in part, State v. Wender, 149 W.Va. 413, 141 S.E.2d 359 (1965), overruled on other grounds by Hartsock-Flesher Candy Co. v. Wheeling Wholesale Grocery Co., 174 W.Va. 538, 328 S.E.2d 144 (1984).
[387]*387 In the instant ease, Mr. Hopkins was properly reinstated by the Commission. There is no dispute that Mr. Hopkins satisfied each and every requirement for reinstatement under W. Va.Code § 7-14-8. Pursuant to Lester, our holding today and the applicable statutes, it is clear that the Commission has such reinstatement authority. Therefore, it was error for the circuit court to reverse the Commission’s decision to reinstate Mr. Hopkins.5
IV.
CONCLUSION
The Circuit Court of Nicholas County erred in finding the Commission had no authority to reinstate Mr. Hopkins as a deputy sheriff. Therefore, the circuit court’s final order is reversed.
Reversed.
Justice STARCHER dissents.