Leaders of multiple veteran organizations are defending Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA) commissioner Kent Davis after Gov. Kay Ivey asked for his resignation on Thursday.
Ivey asked for Davis's resignation and removed John Kilpatrick from the Alabama State Board of Veterans Affairs on Thursday. In the resignation request, Ivey said the agency mishandled an ARPA grant program. Davis has declined to resign and said in a statement on Friday, "I respectfully disagree with the inaccurate claims made against the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs."
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 Alabama Ethics Commission later dismissed the complaint.
Ivey on Friday called a special meeting of the State Board of Veterans Affairs for Tuesday afternoon to consider the removal of Davis as commissioner.
Davis, who retired from the Navy with the rank of Rear Admiral, has served as ADVA commissioner since 2019.
Multiple Alabama veterans organizations have said they want Davis to remain as ADVA commissioner despite Ivey's call for him to resign.
Retired Chief Master Sergeant and Alabama Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Commander Eric Dudash said in a letter to members on Sunday, "Kent Davis has been a strong and tireless advocate for veterans during his tenure as commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs."
"We are grateful for what he has done: opening a fifth state veterans home, $10 million expansion of the state veterans cemetery, outreach and engagement, (and the) continual pursuit of ending veteran suicide," Dudash said in the letter. "We are disheartened that Governor Ivey has asked Commissioner Davis to resign. We have faith and confidence that the State Board of Veterans Affairs will carefully weigh the facts and make sound decisions in this matter. We hope that everyone keeps their focus on what is best for Alabama veterans, regardless of the outcome of this situation."
Retired Army Lt. Col. and South Alabama Veterans Council President Louis Lartigue said in a letter to Ivey on Saturday, "We wish to express our continued support for the ADVA and Commissioner Davis and ask you to bring this highly unusual and unfounded request and acquisition to a close."
"We stand in full support of the outstanding and focused support of the ADVA and Commissioner Davis for our Veterans of South Alabama," Lartigue said in the letter. "The ADVA and Commissioner Davis have been a bright light for the Veterans of South Alabama. They have worked hard to bring the plight of Veterans Opioid use and dependence into focus, suicide prevention awareness and education, expansion of our State Veterans Cemetery and opening of a new Veterans Home in the Wiregrass Region, increased support of the Veterans Assistance Offices throughout the counties in Alabama, and much more. We have all seen the increase in support and applaud their efforts. Commissioner Davis and his staff have overcome many obstacles that they were faced with to ensure that our Veterans receive the support they need and deserve. The SAVC stands in solidarity with ADVA and Commissioner Davis in the Department's past and future support of the Veterans of All Alabama."
Gov Ltr 9-7-24 by Caleb Taylor on Scribd
American Legion Department of Alabama Commander Don Madden said in a letter to members on Friday, "I would like to address the developments that have come to us regarding the Governor's office which requested the resignation of The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Kent Davis."
"As the American Legion, Department of Alabama which consists of over 16,000 Veteran members, we fully support the work of Commissioner Davis and the full ADVA staff. The care and accountability of our Veteran community within our great state, consisting of over 400,000 Veterans, has been exceptional under the leadership and devotion of Commissioner Davis. The works and accomplishments attributed to the ADVA that we as Veterans and our families have statewide, are a constant reminder of the dedication and foresight of Commissioner Davis," Madden said in the letter. "These include the unwavering advocacy for the care and well being of our Veteran Heroes with a hard stand and focus on Veteran suicide. This epidemic has touched all of our lives in some way in which ADVA embraces and we will not forget this. Commissioner Davis and his team have overcome many obstacles and now have placed Veteran Service Officers across the state, ensuring the benefits our Heroes have earned, are available and they are there to assist in any way they can. The establishment and expansion of our State Veterans Cemeteries and the completion of the fifth Veterans Home in Alabama are a testament to the values and commitment within this organization. For God and Country, we, as the American Legion, Department of Alabama, are dedicated to changing and saving the lives of our Veterans and their families, as is the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs. May our partnership and battles we share for our Heroes and their families realize victory in its fullest!"
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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