FRANKFORT — Kentucky’s new agriculture commissioner, James Comer, is asking for a “sweeping review” of his agency by state Auditor Adam Edelen.

Comer’s two-term predecessor, Richie Farmer, is a fellow Republican who ran last fall for lieutenant governor with Republican gubernatorial candidate David Williams. His administration of the agriculture department was the subject of dozens of unflattering news articles questioning his spending habits and personnel decisions.

Comer said Wednesday at a joint press conference with Edelen that he wants the audit to “address certain issue that (department) employees have brought to our attention and to determine whether there are matters deserving further inquiry.” He said he’s advised department employees to be “cooperative and forthcoming” during the audit which he earlier said he hoped could be completed within 60 days.

Edelen said there is “clearly a cloud of suspicion that hangs over” the Department of Agriculture. He said it’s his duty to “dispel that cloud of suspicion or to hold the people who created it accountable.” He wouldn’t provide any specifics about allegations saying he didn’t want to hamstring the four professional auditors he’s assigned to the review.

But earlier in the day, Comer said there are questions about time sheets, travel vouchers, department credit cards and equipment inventory. He said he thought the “budget situation is fine.” He said one issue involved the allegation that some employees hadn’t shown up for work. Comer wouldn’t say if he thought the issues were serious enough to warrant review by law enforcement.

“I have no idea,” Comer said Wednesday prior to the press conference. “We’re going to let the auditor examine the books and just see. You hear lots of stuff. We’ve had some employees come to us with concerns. Some, we have been able to determine, may warrant close examination by the auditor.”

Edelen said he had asked Comer not to pay for “some comp time balances and personnel reimbursements” until the audit is complete.

Comer said he had not spoken with Farmer since December, before he took office. CNHI News was unable to contact Farmer. Calls to two cell phones used by Farmer resulted in messages that the numbers were no longer in service. Edelen said his auditors have the power to seek information from former employees of the department and will.

“Certainly, Commissioner Farmer will be given the opportunity to share the facts as he knows them,” Edelen said when asked if that included Farmer. “Commissioner Farmer ought to welcome this audit. If he did nothing wrong, he has nothing to worry about because I’m not interested in pursuing anything other than the facts.”

The Department of Agriculture employs about 250 and has an annual budget of $29 million, $13 million of that from federal funds. Comer told a legislative committee Wednesday that the agency is the largest regulatory agency in state government, regulating scales, gasoline, amusement rides, and weights and measurements as well as agriculture.

Farmer was criticized during his last term for purchases of expensive vehicles and for two refrigerators for his use as well as paying for expensive hotel rooms during the state tournament and state fair. He also was criticized for hiring decisions, including hiring his girlfriend and a friend of hers.

Comer said he’s dismissed 15 non-merit or politically appointed employees who are not protected by the state merit system since he took office Jan. 2, including Farmer’s girlfriend. He conceded morale at the agency is poor due to the many press stories questioning Farmer’s spending habits and administration.

Edelen credited Comer for asking for the audit, saying the new commissioner deserves a “clean slate and credit for doing what’s right.” He said auditors “will simply follow the facts where they take us. There are no partisan considerations.”

Comer said he’d spoken with members of the state’s Republican congressional delegation, including U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, and party leaders around the state. He said they told him to “do the right thing and everyone fully supports my decision.” Edelen said his office made “courtesy calls” to General Assembly leadership.

Williams, who is Senate President, said there were “staff to staff” conversations between his office and Edelen’s. Williams said he believes all constitutional offices should be audited during a transition but he won’t be talking about the audit of the Department of Agriculture.

“It would be inappropriate for me to do that,” Williams said.

Edelen and Comer said the audit is expected to cost the agency no more than $15,000 and Edelen said he’s committed to pay any costs beyond that amount should they be necessary.

RONNIE ELLIS writes for CNHI News Service and is based in Frankfort. Reach him at rellis@cnhi.com. Follow CNHI News Service stories on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cnhifrankfort.