FRANKFORT — A judge set a Nov. 22 trial date Tuesday in Rebecca Farmer's divorce case against state Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer.

Franklin Family Court Judge Squire Williams also scheduled a mediation hearing Sept. 29.

Richie Farmer, a former University of Kentucky basketball star from Clay County, is a candidate for lieutenant governor on the gubernatorial ticket of Republican David Williams.

Rebecca Farmer's attorney, Brian A. Logan of Frankfort, wanted the trial date to be scheduled sooner. In response, the commissioner's attorney, Richard Guarnieri of Frankfort, asserted during a hearing Tuesday that Logan wanted the trial before the Nov. 8 general election to get an advantage.

Logan said that was "completely untrue."

He contended in a motion filed last week that Richie Farmer was not cooperating in the case. He said Farmer was more than 30 days late in responding to questions.

"He acts when the sword of Damocles hangs over his head," Logan said.

Guarnieri denied Tuesday that Farmer has tried to delay the case.

After the judge said Tuesday that he was ready to set a trial date, the court clerk offered the dates of Oct. 13, Nov. 1, Nov. 8 and Nov. 15, but Guarnieri said he had previous commitments.

The date eventually was set for 10:30 a.m. Nov. 22, two weeks after the general election.

"There are absolutely no political reasons motivating Ms. Farmer," Logan said after the hearing. "She simply wants a divorce. We're happy to have a trial date."

He said he expected the trial would take only one day.

Rebecca Farmer, 37, filed for divorce April 5, two days after the couple separated.

They have been married for 13 years and have three children.

She has given no reason for the filing in court documents but has claimed that Farmer "has limited her access to the parties' finances" and that the only money she has comes from her net monthly income of less than $1,100 as a teacher's aide in the Franklin County school system.

Richie Farmer, 41, makes $110,346 a year as state agriculture commissioner.