Montgomery, AL – Governor Kay Ivey announced a special meeting of the State Board of Veterans Affairs scheduled for Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. The meeting will address the immediate removal of Kent Davis as commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs.
In a letter to Admiral Davis, Governor Ivey outlined the reasons for this action, citing several areas of concern regarding his performance. The letter detailed issues including a general lack of cooperation with other state agencies and legislators, mishandling of the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant program, and the filing of a dismissed ethics complaint against fellow officials, which the governor described as frivolous.
The governor also referenced a breach of an agreement made in September, where Davis was expected to resign at the end of the year while clarifying that outstanding issues related to the ARPA grant program had been resolved. According to Ivey, Davis’s actions resulted in unnecessary conflict and a breakdown of trust among the Board and her office.
Further allegations against Davis included manipulation of the Board, a failure to comply with directives issued by the governor, and a general loss of trust and confidence among legislative leaders and the governor herself.
The special meeting will be held in the Old Archives Room of the State Capitol in Montgomery. Davis has been invited to respond to the concerns raised in the governor’s letter in a written submission by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, October 21, 2024.
In response to the developments, the Calhoun Journal reached out to Commissioner Davis’s office, receiving the following statement:
“The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs (ADVA) stands by its mission to ensure that all veterans and their families understand and receive the full benefits, support, care, and recognition that they have earned and are entitled to. As has been the case for more than 75 years, ADVA holds itself to delivering on these promises through professionalism, integrity, compassion, commitment, and teamwork.
“Kent Davis is referring all questions to his attorney, John Saxon. Mr. Saxon is currently attending a conference and may not be immediately available. He can be contacted at 205-567-1829 or [email protected].”
The outcome of the special meeting will determine Davis’s future as commissioner, impacting the management of veterans’ affairs in Alabama.
