Tea Party organizer joins Comer’s campaign for ag commissioner
FRANKFORT — Lexington Tea Party movement organizer Mica Sims , who has been critical of the Republican Party, has joined Republican James Comer’s campaign for state agriculture commissioner as state field director, the Comer campaign said Friday.
Sims said in an interview that she will be “a team player” in the campaign and that her criticism of the GOP was not directed at any individual.
On her political blog earlier this week, Sims wrote, “The Tea Party is not another arm of the Republican party. The Republican party stands for nothing. It hasn’t always been like that but it is now.”
She said Friday she was “speaking of the party as a whole for losing its original platform of smaller government.”
Comer, a state representative from Tompkinsville, said he disagrees with Sims but that he named her to his campaign because of her organizational abilities. “She will bring a lot of excitement to the campaign,” he said.
Comer said he talked to U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, Republican gubernatorial nominee David Williams and state GOP Chairman Steve Robertson about hiring Sims.
“None advised me not to get her,” he said. “They told me it was my decision.”
Robertson said the decision was Comer’s. “I know Mica has much enthusiasm for Jamie to win this race,” he said.
Comer declined to say how much Sims will get paid. “Not much,” he said. She also said her pay is “not a set number.”
Sims’ primary duty is to coordinate the campaign’s statewide grassroots and volunteer efforts.
She said she will not be writing as much on her blog and will not be involved in Tea Party organizing during the campaign.
Also, the Comer campaign named six congressional chairs Friday. They are Caroline Cash of Fancy Farm in the 1st, Michael Meredith of Brownsville in the 2nd, Rachel Ford of Louisville in the 3rd, Kevin Sell of Newport in the 4th, Grayson Smith of Salyersville in the 5th and Sims in the 6th.
“I am very excited to announce my team who will coordinate with my local organizations to ensure victory in November. These individuals have lots of energy, they are very well respected, and are all experienced in organizing successful campaigns,” Comer said.
Comer faces Democrat Bob Farmer of Louisville in the November general election.
–Jack Brammer
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Like many in the Republican party I believe Comer has a bright future ahead of him and will more than likely win in November. I’m also concerned that his decision to bring Sims in will cast a negative cloud over his campaign. She’s a loose cannon, and I suspect she’ll use this appointment to further her own agenda despite saying she’ll be a ‘team player.’ Hopefully this decision won’t come back to bite him.
Like you, Concerned GOP’er, I find Comer to have a real shot in November and it is because he is liked by both parties. This move doesn’t seem smart at all. I don’t know Ms. Sims personally, but follow most of the political blogs. She is probably the most polarizing person in the political blogosphere, to the right or left.
I am not impressed with this move at all. Given the NASTY things that she has written about people, I am surprised the GOP would be that forgiving. It’s one thing to blog about your political beliefs, it’s another thing to launch vile personal attacks on people. Aside from having access to a computer, what are her qualifications anyway?
Mica Sims is a liar. Go to http://www.micadaily.blogspot.com and read what she has said about individual candidates running for office. This is absolutely astounding to me. She was at an event in Lexington three nights ago telling people it is time to give Mitch McConnell his “pink slip”. People on the Fayette GOP Exec. were going nuts. Now, Comer hires her? I will vote for the Farmer dude. I am really ticked I gave this guy $100.
DMARKS, Mitch McConnell’s Field Rep. Regina Crawford was at the meeting. Anyone who wants to know what was said can call her. McConnell is strongly supporting Comer. That is not what was said and she (Mica) never mentioned McConnell’s name. You are the liar. Aren’t you the person who tried to host a “Tea Party” event and charge people $15 to attend? How’d that turn out for ya? You can take your 1 vote and give it to Robert “never owned a farm and who insulted everyone in Eastern KY” Farmer.
I have always been a huge supporter of Jamie Comer but this makes me really question his decision making abilities. Now Jamie Comer will spend his entire campaign defending every single anti-GOP or crazy anti-government statement that his staffer has every written. Comer could have hired any young gun rising star in Kentucky politics, especially one that could attract bipartisan votes – this is a terrible decision on Comers part.
Wonder why he hired the former stripper? Was David Adams not available?
I am completely disgusted by this move. Comer can kiss any donations goodbye by sane Republicans or Democrats. It must be killing party leadership to pretend like they give this decision their blessing. The KDP must be having a field day with this hiring decision – Rand Paul had to fire a staffer for comments made years before – just imagine the drivel they will be able to find from that Sims girl. Glad I did not get my checkbook out for this race, I will help other candidates now – no way a dime of my money will to go her. He can kiss his rising star status goodbye. So disgusted.
Comer’s decision is absolutely mind-blowing. Must be something else going on behind the scenes for him to make such a strange call. Every candidate she has supported in the 6th lost last cycle. Look at the former Mayor of Lexington. Comer has no political radar at all. The blogs think it is absolutely hilarious. The Democrats believe this gives them hope. The Republicans are aghast. Beginning to look like AG, Treas. and possibly Auditor are the only remaining hopes for this cycle.
Has Comer ever considered doing due diligence on a potential hire? WTF? Prior employment issues, financial irresponsibility and a general personality disorder should have been part of this equation. I didn’t go to his fundraiser in Lexington last night because of the rain but would have attended otherwise. Talk about a 180 degree perspective change from my standpoint. Comer has demonstrated he is not a team player with this selection and displayed either blatant stupidity or total arrogance in thinking that this decision would be well received.
I am done with this guy. Finished.
Too bad for this man. i don’t know him, but I’ve read what this MIca has written about a family friend whose a good person. She is vile and untruthful. My husband and I will have nothing to do with Comer and will vote for the comedian.
To the person defending Sims and saying it is probably nay-sayers slamming this: I know a whole lot of people that are dedicated campaign volunteers that were only planning on helping the Comer campaign this fall. Every single person I have talked with has decided to look elsewhere to volunteer their time and efforts. He could have had his pick of staffers and this is the best he comes up with…a little vetting goes a long way.
The the person claiming that help was coming later. You always hear this promise of hope as long as you march to the right beat of the party. I rarely see it happen unless you are a party insider. There has been two months since the primary and if you wanted to help you could have been already. Comer has been out working. Where are you?
The one person talked about Mica and selling out to politicians. Like I said before Mica had a very tough choice. She has basically been the leader of Lexington tea party since it started. To give that up to help Comer means she really believes in him. No one else made such a sacrifice. Not the naysayers on either side.
I know that Mica will work hard for Comer. She has probably already done more for Comer in the 6th than everyone else combined. So you may not like her but she will outwork you anyway.
Mica Sims is a loose cannon. She has no clue what conservatism really is. That’s obvious from the statements on her blog. Any conservative Republican who would actually think about supporting Gateweed over Williams is bat-dung crazy. I am sympathetic to Tea Party issues and consider myself a Tea Partier, but I don’t endorse what Mica has been saying or her view of the Tea Party movement. Comer could have done a lot better than Mica Sims. Michael Goins, who is a former spokesman for Gov. Fletcher, is very close to Comer and would have been a much better choice. He’s certainly more articulate and a better communicator.
Obviously there are really 1 or 2 people affiliated with other republican campaigns updet over this and maybe even that funny looking guy that manages Robert Farmers campaign who is posting bad stuff about Jamie Comer. So here are the facts about Jamie Comer:
1. He got 94% of the vote in his House District (4007 out of 4199 votes!) Wow he has been their Representative for 11 years. There are not many politicians who can pull that kind of vote.
2. He got 96% of the vote in his home county which had the second highest turnout of any county in KY behind Franklin which has all of those state employees who get paid to vote in the form of 3 hours off!
3. He was the top Republican vote getter in the primary against a pretty strong opponent (the judge from Shelby County)
4. He is the only Republican that has a chance at winning this fall.
5. He is someone who can obviously bring many groups together which is what the Republican Party needs since they lost the Guv race and are getting their butts kicked by the D party of KY.
6. I looked at his list of donors from the http://www.kref.gov website and he did not get that much money from republicans anyway. He got his money from farmers, people from his home area and Ag Dept employees (I’m not crazy about the employees because I want him to fire as many as possible and birng in some ag minded people to replace them)
7. Mica really is just going to be handing out flyers and buttons at county fairs.
furthermore, how does the R party think it can win and attract new voters when they have run off all of the blacks, hispanics, gays, pro-gambling, teachers, workers and anyone who has ever disagreed with them like Mica? i think that Comer is pretty smart.
besides, every Tea Party insider knows that Comer hired her to try to help David Williams campaign. For whatever reason, Jamie Comer loves David Williams and would do anything he asked.
I think that Comer will win because he is the best man for the job. His opponent is unqualified and anyone who will now vote for Robert Farmer instead of Jamie cause of an employee then they aren’t much for good government. I think the 2 or 3 people on here trashing him are with other campaigns which are loosing badly and they are jealous of Jamie. Maybe ya’ll should just get on board with Jamie and ride his coattails in?
I’m for Jamie Comer all the way. Go brother go!
If the choice is between questionable humor and the idiocracy of the Tea Stooges then choose the comedian.
Bill adkins you must not own a farm or pay any taxes or you would take the office of ag commissioner a little more seriously than that. steve beshear won’t even be seen with robert farmer because he is such a joke. To not vote for someone because they hired a minimum wage employee to work in the campaign who has energy and a built in network because you don’t like them shows how thin and worthless you are. we won’t have to worry about old bob farmer’s hires because nobody will ever donate to him or work for him.
James Comer is the best man for the job. He is a farm leader and a great public servant. check his background out http://www.jamescomer.com
Comer’s hiring Mica Sims demonstrates his character and reflects his values if he chooses to hire her. Such decisions are relevant when you are a candidate (who you choose to surround yourself with). He’s relying on Sims, Mary Kroll, and several other young women. Interesting in and of itself for sure. As for other decisions, Comer has taken $$$ (fair amounts from the Democrat employees in Richie Farmer’s office (most of them are D) and has by all accounts likely indicated he’ll keep most of them in their jobs. Why is that important? Should be to GOP voters…these same individuals are Democrat and have contributed thousands to Democrat candidates this year and previous years but yet Comer runs as a Republican and portrays himself as the future of the Republican party. It was pointed out by others before the primary that he’s catering to the tea party and their “less government” mantra when he has been receiving federal farm subsidies. I have seen him speak about the spending in and need for controlling it in Frankfort, yet recently discovered he’s been on the state budget committee for the last 10 years. People’s actions do indeed speak louder than their words. Hiring Sims is just the latest of many that call into question whether Comer should really receive Democrat or Republican voters support in the fall.