Gulf Coast Veterans voice support for embattled Alabama VA Commissioner

MOBILE, Ala. ( WKRG ) — Veterans around the Gulf Coast say they’re backing the head of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs as Alabama Governor Kay Ivey tries to oust him.

This past week Ivey asked retired Rear Admiral Kent Davis to resign , alleging Davis mismanaged grant funding. Davis refused to step down, saying he did nothing wrong and continues to work for veterans. Now local vets are organizing a bus trip to Montgomery as the Veteran’s Affairs board meets this Tuesday.

Air Force Veteran Bill Lewis says he’s seen improvement in mental health services under the commissioner’s tenure.

“Everything about the mental health department. You have a problem. You just call them and they take care of it” said Lewis outside a Mobile Church. It’s a sentiment shared by Navy veteran and veteran advocate Pete Riehm.

“[Davis] has worked tirelessly and selflessly for the veterans. He has made a difference. His record of achievement is demonstrable. I mean, he’s put veteran service officers all around the state,” said Riehm. He says Governor Ivey is making a bad call.

“The governor, when given the choice to support veterans or the lobbyists in Montgomery, she chose the lobbyists,” said Riehm. While a number of veterans and veteran groups have voiced support for Davis in recent days, organizers admit it may be an uphill battle to prevent him from being removed as commissioner.

“We are fighting the governor. We are fighting the swamp of Montgomery. We are fighting the establishment. We are fighting the lobbyists and the history in Alabama is in those fights, the citizens lose,” said Riehm. It’s not clear what action, if any, the VA board will take this week.

For more information on the bus trip that’s being organized click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.