May 16 Local News Williams Says He Had “No Idea” About Farmer’s Alleged Misdeeds Kentucky Senate President David Williams says he had no idea what trouble his former gubernatorial running mate Richie Farmer was causing as agriculture commissioner. During an interview on Kentucky Sports Radio Wednesday, host Matt Jones asked Williams about the abuses of power and resources that were uncovered in a recent audit of Farmer’s time in […] By Kenny Colston May 16 Local News Williams Says He Had “No Idea” About Farmer’s Alleged Misdeeds Kenny Colston
Apr 30 Local News Richie Farmer’s Attorney Calls Audit “Political and Self-Serving” An audit of former Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer’s administration has revealed multiple abuses of state resources. The report says the former University of Kentucky basketball star illegally hired friends and family, used department resources for Christmas gifts and made state employees mow his yard and build a basketball court at his home on state […] By Kenny Colston Apr 30 Local News Richie Farmer’s Attorney Calls Audit “Political and Self-Serving” Kenny Colston
Apr 30 Local News Audit Uncovers Richie Farmer’s Rampant Abuse of State Funds, Employees An audit of Richie Farmer’s two terms as Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner has revealed a toxic culture of entitlement and an extravagant misuse of taxpayer dollars, state employees and time. Current Agriculture Commissioner James Comer requested the audit earlier this year. State Auditor Adam Edelen released his final report today, showing more than a dozen infractions by Farmer and […] By Kenny Colston Apr 30 Local News Audit Uncovers Richie Farmer’s Rampant Abuse of State Funds, Employees Kenny Colston
Dec 1 Local News Comer Promises to Sell Farmer’s SUV, Make Other Changes in Agriculture Department In an interview with CN2 Pure Politics on Wednesday, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner-elect James Comer pledged to sell an expensive SUV that current Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer purchased with taxpayer dollars. The controversies involving Farmer’s use of public funds have been heavily scrutinized since the gubernatorial campaign. Questions have been raised about a conference trip to […] By WFPL News Dec 1 Local News Comer Promises to Sell Farmer’s SUV, Make Other Changes in Agriculture Department WFPL News
Nov 18 Local News City Threatens to End Insight Contract, Richie Farmer Hired Girlfriend for State Job, JCPS Will Use More Local Produce, Bowling Green Draws Praise from Obama on Green Measures: Afternoon Review In case you got a jump start on the weekend, here are some of the stories we’ve covered today. Louisville Metro Government will cancel its contract with Insight Communications if it can’t reach a new deal over how the cable company operates soon. The city has filed the necessary paperwork to end its agreement with […] By Laura Ellis Nov 18 Local News City Threatens to End Insight Contract, Richie Farmer Hired Girlfriend for State Job, JCPS Will Use More Local Produce, Bowling Green Draws Praise from Obama on Green Measures: Afternoon Review Laura Ellis
Nov 1 Local News Williams’s Wife Featured in Latest Ad With the gubernatorial election one week away, the campaign for Republican David Williams has released another ad that doesn’t feature the candidate in its final push. In the 30-second spot, former District Court Judge Robyn Williams criticizes Democratic incumbent Steve Beshear for “running a nasty campaign” and tells voters they aren’t being told the truth […] By WFPL News Nov 1 Local News Williams’s Wife Featured in Latest Ad WFPL News
Oct 31 Local News Williams Missing from Final Ad Push The campaign for Republican David Williams has released its final ads in the race for Kentucky governor, but the GOP nominee isn’t in either spot. Instead, a 30-second TV commercial entitled “Team” only features Williams’s running mate, Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer, touting their jobs plan while trying to connect Democratic incumbent Steve Beshear to President […] By WFPL News Oct 31 Local News Williams Missing from Final Ad Push WFPL News
Aug 26 Local News Farmer Frustrated With Coverage of Divorce Republican lieutenant governor candidate Richie Farmer wants the media to back off and news stories about his divorce to stop because it is a private matter and hurting his children. Farmer, who is the outgoing agriculture commissioner, vented his frustration at the 48th annual Kentucky Farm Bureau country ham breakfast. In April, 37-year-old Rebecca Farmer […] By WFPL News Aug 26 Local News Farmer Frustrated With Coverage of Divorce WFPL News
Jul 19 Local News Williams Releases Campaign Ad The campaign for Republican gubernatorial candidate David Williams began airing its first television ad Tuesday in the general election race. The 30-second spot features the state Senate president talking directly to voters about his father, Lewis Williams, a former Cumberland County clerk and telling them why he’s running for governor. Check it out: The ad […] By WFPL News Jul 19 Local News Williams Releases Campaign Ad WFPL News
Jul 18 Local News Ag Commissioner Candidate Proposes Regional Offices Democratic candidate for Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Bob Farmer is proposing four new regional offices to be placed throughout the state in order to provide better resources to residents and bring services closer to local farmers. “It just makes sense to have regional offices that specialize in those commodities in those regions and really be […] By WFPL News Jul 18 Local News Ag Commissioner Candidate Proposes Regional Offices WFPL News
May 16 Local News Democratic Party Spent $85,000 For Beshear’s Plane Use A report in the Lexington Herald-Leader reveals Governor Steve Beshear used a state plane to take his family to the 2011 NCAA Final Four basketball tournament in Houston. The Kentucky Democratic Party reimbursed the state $6,105 for the flight and has spent almost $85,000 to cover the cost of similar flights since the governor took […] By WFPL News May 16 Local News Democratic Party Spent $85,000 For Beshear’s Plane Use WFPL News
May 4 Local News Washington Post Says Farmer Becoming Liability The campaign woes continue for Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer, who is featured in a Washington Post story for being a drag on the gubernatorial ticket with state Senate President David Williams, R-Burkseville, in the upcoming Republican primary. Going over Farmer’s campaign troubles, (here, here, here and here) the piece quotes state political observers who […] By WFPL News May 4 Local News Washington Post Says Farmer Becoming Liability WFPL News
May 4 Noise & Notes Flash: Richie Farmer Played Basketball During Monday’s debate between the three Republican candidates for lieutenant governor, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer continually reminded voters of his folk hero status as a basketball legend. Besides mentioning being “valedictorian of his elementary school class”, Farmer, who is running with state Senate President David Williams, accentuated being named Mr. Basketball in 1988, who […] By WFPL News May 4 Noise & Notes Flash: Richie Farmer Played Basketball WFPL News
May 2 Local News GOP Lt. Governor Candidates Debate on KET Tonight Debating for the first time on live television, the three Republican primary candidates for lieutenant governor will appear on KET’s “Kentucky Tonight” Monday. Host Bill Goodman will moderate the discussion between Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer, state Rep. Mike Harmon, R-Danville and Bill Vermillion Jr., a Navy veteran from Caneyville. Political observers are eager to see […] By WFPL News May 2 Local News GOP Lt. Governor Candidates Debate on KET Tonight WFPL News
May 2 Local News Williams-Farmer Release Bus Tour Trailer Telling Governor Steve Beshear to lead, follow or get out of the way, Republican gubernatorial candidate David Williams and running mate Richie Farmer released a theatrical-styled campaign advertisement highlighting their statewide bus tour. The YouTube video bypasses Williams’s GOP primary opponents—Louisville businessman Phil Moffett and Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw—and instead targets Beshear, utilizing thundering […] By WFPL News May 2 Local News Williams-Farmer Release Bus Tour Trailer WFPL News