BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has called for the resignation of the head of the state's veterans affairs department over what she alleged as mishandling grant money and not keeping her office in the loop with the ongoing business of the department.
In a letter sent Thursday, Ivey asked Rear Admiral Kent Davis to submit his resignation from the department he has led since 2019. According to her office, Ivey did not meet with Davis prior to her sending the letter.
Ivey's listed reason for requesting Davis' resignation is over allegedly mishandling an ARPA grant program by proposing uses that would not be covered by 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," Ivey wrote in a statement. "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."
Additionally, Ivey said Davis had failed to consult with her office about what was going on in the department.
State Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, who chairs the Senate Veterans, Military Affairs, and Public Safety Members committee, said he is confident in Ivey's decision.
"I'm confident that Governor Ivey is making the decision that she thinks is best for our state. Ultimately, serving Alabama's veterans is what is most important and I look forward to working with whoever is selected to serve in these roles," Jones said.
Ivey's letter comes weeks after Davis had filed an ethics complaint against Alabama Department of Mental Health Commissioner Kim Boswell, citing that she and others worked to keep his department from getting $7 million in American Rescue Plan funds as well as destroy a bill to create a statewide mental health system for veterans, the Alabama Daily News reports. Boswell is a member of Ivey's cabinet while Davis is not.
In requesting Davis' resignation, Ivey announced that she had removed John Kilpatrick from the State Board of Veterans' Affairs. According to ADN, Kilpatrick had tried to seek funds for his Vets Recover clinic in Mobile while also being on the board, although Davis said he did not see that as a conflict of interest.
CBS 42 political analyst Steve Flowers said Ivey's public call for Davis' resignation was uncommon.
"When you see her come out this adamantly, this assuredly, you can be assured that something's wrong in that department," Flowers said. "There's some malfeasance."
Ivey had originally called for Davis to resign by 5 p.m. Thursday so he could leave effective Sep. 30. However, by 5 p.m., he had not submitted his resignation to Ivey.
“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," Ivey wrote in a statement Thursday night. "I am prepared to take further action.”
As of Thursday morning, Davis has not issued a response to Ivey's call for his ouster. Brandon Miller, public information manager for the ADVA, said in a statement to CBS 42 that a statement would be coming soon.