Governor Kay Ivey asked for the resignation of Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs commissioner Kent Davis and removed John Kilpatrick from the Alabama State Board of Veterans Affairs on Thursday.
Ivey gave Davis until 5 p.m. on Thursday to resign effective September 30.
“Ample cause exists for your removal as Commissioner. For example, your agency mishandled an ARPA grant program by, among other things, proposing–on a substantially delayed basis–uses of grant funds that would be ineligible under U.S. Treasury rules and regulations and/or state law or policy. This put in jeopardy the State of Alabama’s ability to fulfill its obligations under ARPA and your agency’s ability to most effectively serve veterans. It thus seriously calls into question your ability to secure “additional services” for Alabama veterans and to “cooperate with all other heads of the state departments” as are your duties under state law,” Ivey said in a letter to Davis on Thursday.
Davis filed an ethics complaint against Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) commissioner Kim Boswell in August for allegedly preventing ADVA from obtaining $7 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The complaint was later dismissed by the Alabama Ethics Commission as “frivolous.”
Military Officers Association of America said in a statement to 1819 News that Ivey removed Colonel John Kilpatrick as the MOAA representative to the Alabama Board of Veterans Affairs and Ivey “provided no cause or reason for Colonel Kilpatrick’s removal.”
“My appointment to the Board was a result of my position as President of the Alabama Council of Chapters of the Military Officers Association of America. Members of the Alabama State Board of Veterans Affairs serve at the pleasure of the Governor. It was my honor to serve our Veteran community as a member of the Board, and I’m proud of the work I did on behalf of Alabama Veterans. I will continue to work every single day to improve access to high quality health care for Alabama Veterans and their families,” Kilpatrick said.
A spokesman for Davis said he was out of the office and would respond to Ivey’s letter Thursday afternoon.
2024-09-05 GKI Letter to Kent Davis (1) by Caleb Taylor on Scribd
Update: Ivey said in a statement Thursday night Davis hadn't resigned yet.
“I am disappointed Commissioner Davis did not have the decency to respond and therefore, did not choose to do the right thing for the future of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs and veterans statewide. I am prepared to take further action.” Ivey said
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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