http://mycn2.com/politics/lexington-attorney-files-ethics-complaint-against-comer-over-alleged-misuse-of-state-employee-time

Publication Date: September 14, 2011

Author: Kenny Colston

Lexington attorney files ethics complaint against Comer over alleged misuse of state employee time

A Lexington attorney filed an ethics complaint against state Rep. James Comer, alleging Comer has been using a state employee to help him campaign during state business hours.

Comer is the Republican nominee for Agriculture Commissioner, running against Democrat Bob Farmer. The complaint has been made by Lexington attorney Franklin Paisley, who filed the complaint this morning with the Legislative Ethics Commission.

Paisley’s complaint alleges that Comer has tapped Michael Goins, communications director for the state House Republican Caucus, to help run his campaign while Goins is on state time.

Goins wife Beth owns and runs Blue Sky Communications, a political consulting group. Goins founded the company, but shifted ownership to his wife in July of last year, according to records filed with the Secretary of State’s office. Comer has contracted with Blue Sky to help run part of his campaign this year.

Paisley’s complaint says Michael Goins posted “partisan political comments” from his person Facebook profile as well as a profile for Blue Sky Communications onto Comer’s campaign page. Paisley says that those actions would violate state law that a candidate may not use “public funds, time or personnel for partisan political campaign activity.”

In response to the complaint, House Republican Minority Floor Leader Jeff Hoover released a statement saying he didn’t believe Goins used state time to work for Comer.

“I am confident there has been no wrongdoing on the part of Rep. Comer as alleged by his opponent,” Hoover said. “I have reviewed the allegations with our staff and LRC personnel and I have seen no evidence which causes me any concern.”

Reached by phone, Michael Goins declined to respond further and referred Pure Politics to Hoover’s statement.

Paisley’s complaint also alleged that Comer deleted the comments and “de-friended” Michael Goins to “deliberately destroy” the evidence.

But when asked if it was possible that Beth Goins, not Michael, was at least responsible for any postings from the Blue Sky Facebook profile, Paisley said the question could be turned upside down.

“How do you know it wasn’t Michael?” Paisley said.

Paisley said he filed the complaint to start an investigation to find out what really was happening with Comer’s campaign.

Comer did not respond to a voicemail left for him by press time.

-Reporting by Kenny Colston

Kenny Colston
About Kenny Colston

Kenny Colston is a political reporter for cn|2 Politics. Colston formerly served as editor of the Kentucky Kernel, the student-run newspaper at the University of Kentucky. You can reach him at kenny.colston@mycn2.com or 502-357-4255.

Comments

  • Buck Feshear wrote on September 14, 2011 09:06 PM :

    This Paisley guy sounds like a bit of a bitter @$$hole.

  • Ray wrote on September 15, 2011 10:01 AM :

    This looks like a serious blow to the Comer campaign and could dry up fundraising. Using a state employee during work hours to campaign for Comer is that awful word- fraud. Comer had to give him access to his Facebook campaign page to make those entries during work time and then they deleted everything when caught. That is a sure fire sign of destroying the evidence, another crime. I sense it all crumbling down for Comer.

    Plus, won’t the Tea party folks be outraged over this misuse of taxpayer dollars?

  • Insured wrote on September 15, 2011 05:23 PM :

    Comer is just more of the same. Part of the career political class aiming for their next job to bump up their salary and benefits. He’s been part of the problem voting for state budgets in Frankfort as a legislator for over a decade. Using staff for their campaigns and ignoring ethics rules…but, do as I say, not as I do…yep, more of the same. Looks like he’ll do a great job of fitting in just like his predecessor Richie Farmer who’s been travelling around the world, buying stuff including fancy cars, etc. all on the taxpayer’s back while out giving speeches about he’s a conservative…sounds like james comer and richie farmer are two peas in a pod. just what we need more of in Frankfort!

  • Bruce Layne wrote on September 15, 2011 11:40 PM :

    As one of “the TEA Party folks”, I would be outraged IF there was a misuse of taxpayer dollars. So far, I see nothing of substance. Instead, I see Facebook post that may have been made by Michael Goins, but may also have been made by his wife, given that she’s apparently running the company that initiated the post. Worst case, it’s a Facebook post. A couple of minutes on a computer, when the soundbite implication is a state employee campaigning full time on the state’s dime, using a state supplied vehicle, state supplied printing, etc. IT’S A FACEBOOK POST. This smacks of desperation for Bob Not-A-Farmer, so his campaign can sling some mud instead of having a grown up discussion about who is most qualified and best suited for the Ag Commissioner’s job. Apparently, anyone can file a lawsuit over anything… or nothing. The timing is perfect for the election, and this lawsuit will evaporate the day after the election. I’m disgusted that many Kentuckians are swayed by false allegations and negative campaigns. Dirty tricks like this shouldn’t be effective. Voters need to be smarter and punish those who launch baseless attacks, just like we rightly punished Jack Conway for that shameful and desperate Aqua Buddha nonsense.

What do you have to say?





SUBSCRIBE NOW

Subscribe to email updates.

Subscribe and get the latest political intelligence delivered to your inbox.

KSTV Casting Call

MyCN2 Twitter Feed

Copyright © 2012 cn|2