By Associated Press
Frankfort, KY – The Kentucky Personnel Board postponed a decision Friday on an anonymous request for another investigation into whether political appointees in the Department of Agriculture have been illegally transferring into protected positions to avoid being let go in an upcoming change of administration.
A similar investigation into allegations of "burrowing" has been under way since June in the agency headed by Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer, a Republican lieutenant gubernatorial candidate.
Investigators will have to work through a maze of rhetoric to determine whether the complaints have merit or if they resulted from the bare-knuckle politics of a Kentucky election season.
Democrats quickly grabbed onto the latest complaint, which was filed by an unidentified state employee, to attack Farmer.
In a statement distributed to media, Democratic Party Chairman Dan Logsdon said, "Kentuckians have every right to wonder what on earth is going on at Farmer's department."
In a meeting Friday, the Personnel Board, which serves as a watchdog of sorts over the hiring and firing of state workers, voted to delay action on the latest request until after an administrative hearing officer reviews the matter, a process that could run into next year.
The Department of Agriculture denied any impropriety.
The Personnel Board commissioned a probe in June to determine if the Department of Agriculture had placed two department heads into protected positions so they wouldn't lose their jobs in January.
Department of Agriculture attorney Nicole Liberto defended those transfers, saying proper protocol was followed.
However, the investigation has become political fodder in the governor's race. Farmer, a former University of Kentucky basketball star, is running-mate to Republican David Williams who is challenging incumbent Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear in the Nov. 8 general election.
Farmer is completing his second term as agriculture commissioner, and wasn't allowed under Kentucky law to seek re-election.
Republican James Comer and Democrat Bob Farmer are seeking to replace him in the fall general election. The winner will select his own political appointees to the agency's top jobs.