All Entries in the "Agriculture commissioner" Category

Two women at center of Ag Department investigation resign

By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — Two state Department of Agriculture employees at the center of a Personnel Board investigation have vacated their new merit position jobs and returned to their previous posts as political appointees.

The Personnel Board unanimously decided on Friday to continue investigating the department’s decision to place the two women in merit jobs, which would protect them from dismissal after Commissioner of Agriculture Richie Farmer leaves office at the end of the year.

Farmer is running for lieutenant governor this year on the Republican ticket of gubernatorial nominee David Williams.

Fancy Farm schedules speakers for annual political picnic

By Jack Brammer – jbrammer@herald-leader.com

Candidates for governor, U.S. senators and a “farewell” speech by Lt. Gov. Daniel Mongiardo will highlight this year’s Fancy Farm picnic, which traditionally kicks off the fall campaigns in Kentucky.

Mark Wilson, political chairman for the 131st annual picnic on Aug. 6 at St. Jerome Catholic Church in the small Western Kentucky community of Fancy Farm, released information Wednesday about the picnic’s political speaking program.

Wilson said Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear and Republican Senate President David Williams have confirmed they will speak at the picnic about their campaigns for governor.

Wilson also said Lexington attorney Gatewood Galbraith, who is running for governor as an independent, will be invited to speak if his required candidacy papers have been formalized.

Richie Farmer’s wife seeks trial date in divorce case

By Jack Brammer
jbrammer@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT – A judge set a July 12 hearing to consider Rebecca Farmer’s request for a trial date to end her marriage of 13 years to state Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer.

Richie Farmer, a former University of Kentucky basketball star, is running for lieutenant governor on Republican David Williams’ ticket for governor.

Franklin Family Court Judge Squire Williams was to take up Rebecca Farmer’s motion for a trial date Tuesday morning but decided to hear it later because Farmer’s attorney was not present.

Rebecca Farmer’s attorney, Brian A. Logan of Frankfort, said the commissioner’s attorney, Richard M. Guarnieri, had a scheduling conflict. Guarnieri was not immediately available for comment.

Pike County judge-executive says Ag candidate not welcome

By Beth Musgrave
bmusgrave@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — The Democratic judge executive of the state’s largest county says agriculture commissioner candidate Bob Farmer is no longer welcome in Pike County because of disparaging jokes Farmer made about Eastern Kentucky.

Farmer issued an apology Tuesday after Republicans pointed out comments Farmer made about inbred Eastern Kentuckians at a performance at a dinner theater in Danville, Ind.

In the routine, Farmer said that Eastern Kentucky was a place where the cars were on blocks and the houses were on wheels. Farmer also joked that the FBI had a hard time working in Eastern Kentucky because the DNA was the same and there were no dental records.

The outtakes from the performance were posted as part of an internet advertisement paid for by his Republican opponent, Rep. Jamie Comer.

Democrat Farmer apologizes for Eastern Kentucky jokes

By Beth Musgrave
bmusgrave@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — The Democratic nominee for the state’s top agriculture job apologized Tuesday for jokes he made about people in Eastern Kentucky during a comedy routine several years ago.

A clip of Bob Farmer, a Louisville marketing executive running for commissioner of agriculture, was included in an Internet video posted by his opponent, Republican state Rep. Jamie Comer of Tompkinsville. In the video, Farmer makes jokes about Eastern Kentucky, where his wife is from, during a performance at the Derby Dinner Playhouse in Danville, Ind.

Farmer joked that Eastern Kentucky is a place where “cars are on blocks and houses are on wheels.” He says someone told him the FBI would not investigate a particular county “cause all the DNA is alike and there ain’t no dental records.”

Seven candidates vying for commissioner of agriculture

By Beth Musgrave – bmusgrave@herald-leader.com

FRANKFORT — Although the number of farms in Kentucky has dropped over the past 10 years, Kentucky farm sales are expected to top $4.7 billion this year — just shy of the $4.8 billion record set in 2008.

Seven men — five Democrats and two Republicans — are vying for the state’s top agricultural position on May 17 with hopes of seeing Kentucky’s agricultural economy grow even faster.

Richie Farmer, who has been commissioner of agriculture since 2003, can not seek a third term and is running on a ticket with Senate President David Williams in the Republican primary for governor and lieutenant governor.

B.D. Wilson, a former Montgomery County Judge Executive and former commissioner in the Transportation Cabinet, leads a crowded field of Democrats with the most money — more than $144,000, according to his latest campaign finance report. Much of that money has come from county officials and contractors. Wilson has about $28,000 on hand going into the May 17 primary.

In the Republican race, state Rep. Jamie Comer of Tompkinsville has out-raised Shelby County Judge Executive Rob Rothenburger nearly six to one. Comer’s 15-day pre-election report shows he has raised $200,000 compared to Rothenberger’s $33,945.

Hemp arises as issue in race for ag commissioner

By ROGER ALFORD | Associated Press

FRANKFORT — Most candidates for agriculture commissioner have come out in favor of allowing Kentucky farmers to grow industrial hemp as an alternative crop, despite reservations from law enforcement that it could be used to camouflage illegal marijuana crops.