James Comer (politician)
| James Comer | |
|---|---|
| Agriculture Commissioner of Kentucky | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2012 |
|
| Governor | Steve Beshear |
| Preceded by | Richie Farmer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 19, 1972 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Alma mater | Western Kentucky University |
| Profession | Farmer, Politician |
James R. Comer (b. August 19, 1972) is a politician from the Commonwealth of Kentucky who serves as Commissioner of Agriculture for the state. He is a former state representative. He is a member of the Republican Party, and is currently the only Republican holding a non-federal statewide elected office in Kentucky.
Contents |
[edit] Early life and education
Comer is a native of Tompkinsville, Kentucky. He received a bachelors degree in agriculture from Western Kentucky University. In college, he served as President of the Kentucky Future Farmers of America. After college, he started a 2,300 acres (950 ha) farm with his family. He also served as a director of a local bank for twelve years.
[edit] Political career
He served as President of the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce from 1999 until his 2000 election to the Kentucky House of Representatives at the age of 27. He served in the House until 2012, when he became Commissioner of Agriculture.
[edit] Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture
In 2011, Comer ran for the position of Agriculture Commissioner; the incumbent, Richie Farmer, was term limited. It was widely considered a fluke that his Democratic opponent, a former comedian with some marketing experience, won his nomination for the office.[citation needed] In the election, Democrats won every statewide office on the ballot except Agriculture Commissioner. Comer had the highest percentage of the vote of any candidate on the ballot. He took office on January 2012 and is eligible for re-election in 2015. One of his first actions in office was teaming up with Democratic Auditor Adam Edelen to investigate his Republican predecessor's ethical issues while in office.
Shortly after taking office, Commissioner Comer labeled the legalization of industrialized hemp as his top priority.
[edit] Personal
Comer is married with three children.
[edit] External links
- "James R. Comer". official Commonwealth of Kentucky site.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Richie Farmer |
Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Assumed office 2012 |
Succeeded by incumbent |
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