Gov. Ivey calls meeting to consider immediate removal of veterans affairs commissioner

MONTGOMERY, Ala. ( WIAT ) — Gov. Kay Ivey has called a special meeting of the State Board of Veterans Affairs to consider the immediate removal of Commissioner Kent Davis.

Ivey’s call for a special meeting comes over a month after Davis agreed to resign from his post at the end of the year. Ivey initially called for Davis’ resignation on September 5 over allegations he mishandled departmental affairs regarding American Rescue Plant Act funds and a failure to consult with her office on various matters.

Davis had previously declined Ivey’s request for him to resign, saying he had been transparent about how the ADVA had been run, before ultimately agreeing to step down at the conclusion of 2024.

The month before Ivey had requested Davis’ resignation, he had filed an ethics complaint against Kim Boswell, head of the Alabama Department of Mental Health, alleging she and others worked to keep the ADVA from receiving $7 million in ARPA funds. The complaint was ultimately dismissed.

However, the possibility of Davis lasting until the end of the year is now in question. Ivey listed general lack of cooperation, mishandling of ARPA grant program, filing a frivolous ethics complaint, breach of agreement, manipulation of the board, failure to comply, and general loss of trust and confidence as reasons for Davis’ immediate removal.

The state board will consider Ivey’s request during the special called meeting at 2:00 p.m. on October 22.

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