Beech Tree News Network

Current Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture and G.O.P. gubernatorial candidate James Comer visited Morgantown on Monday, December 1, for a meet-and -greet fundraiser.

Comer, originally from Tompkinsville, was elected Agriculture Commissioner in 2011, and led the ticket on the way to winning his first state-wide campaign. Now he has his sights set on the Governor’s mansion, where he thinks major changes are needed in order to make Kentucky competitive with other states.

“We need to attract good paying jobs to Kentucky. If we want to retain our best and brightest young people we have to have an environment in Kentucky where we can attract good-paying jobs to this state,” said Comer. Comer says his administration wants change the current business climate in the state by reducing taxes and removing the regulatory burden from small businesses.

“That’s the number one issue for me in the Governor’s race is to be able to attract good-paying jobs to this state. Until we change our business climate that’s not going to happen,” said Comer.

Comer feels that Mitch McConnell’s recent double-digit win over Allison Grimes in the race for United States Senate shows that Kentucky is a conservative state. He feels he appeals to both Republicans and Democrats.

“People are sick and tired of politics and politicians. They want people that actually want to achieve something,” according to Comer. Among areas that Comer wants to reform in the state are the public education system, the pension system, and infrastructure projects.
“It costs a lot more money to build a road in Kentucky than it does (in) Tennessee, and it shouldn’t,” said Comer.

Asked what he would do on day-one as Governor, Comer was quick to give an answer.
“We’re going to audit some offices in Frankfort that I think will prove there’s been a high level of corruption in state government.” He continued, “Frankfort spends too much money. Before we do tax reform in Kentucky we need to have spending reform.”

Comer wants to identify businesses in Kentucky who aren’t paying their fair share of taxes. He says a culture of “crony capitalism” exists in Kentucky, which allows officials in Frankfort to give tax deals and incentives to select businesses in an unfair manner.

“On day one we’re going to bring transparency and accountability to state government,” said Comer.

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Story by Joe K. Morris, Beech Tree News.