Admiral Kent Davis addresses Montgomery Republicans

January 15, 2025 – MONTGOMERY, Al – Retired rear Admiral Kent Davis – who recently was removed from his position as Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veteran Affairs spoke recently in Montgomery. Admiral Davis speaking to the Republican Club of Central Alabama.

Daivs was fired by Governor Kay Ivey (R) because of a dispute between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Mental Health Department over the allocation of federal COVID relief dollars. Ivey accused Davis of not working well with the other Department

Davis warned that the Legislature is drafting legislation that would make the head of the Department of Veteran Affairs a gubernatorial appointee. Currently the veterans' groups, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disable American Veterans, etc.control the board.

"The veterans services organizations select 3 candidates and give them to the governor," explained Davis. The Governor picks from that list to fill vacancies on the Board.

The Veterans Board, which includes the Governor, picks the Commissioner; but all that would change if the anti-veteran legislation that seeks to give the governor unprecedented power passes.

"There is a bill out there that has been drafted that would make it a political appointee selected solely by the governor," Davis warned. "This bill would make the entire board of veterans affairs political appointees."

The move would give the Governor and the Legislature unprecedented power over how the state takes care of its veterans. Presently the Governor is a Republican and Republicans have supermajorities in both Houses of the Alabama Legislature.

"I am a strong Republican, but Republican may not always be in charge," Davis warned.

Other states have made similar moves.

"In other states it has been a disaster," stated Davis. "Most of the southern states are apolitical."

Oregon, a very blue state which has voted against President Trump in the last three elections, has a Veterans Department that is controlled by the politicians there.

"The things I have seen out of Oregon are very far out there," Davis said.

Davis is widely believed to be considering launching a bid for the Republican nomination for Governor of the State of Alabama.

"I have been a Republican for 43 years," said Davis.

Davis explained that as an active duty military or a civilian government employee he was bound by the Hatch act most of his career so could not be as politically active as he would have liked

"I intend to get much more politically active in the weeks ahead," Davis said.

Incumbent Gov Kay Ivey (R) is barred by state law from running for a third consecutive term. The Republican field for the gubernatorial nomination is completely wide open – something the state has not experienced since 2010. In addition to Davis, Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth, Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture & Industries Rick Pate, Ambassador Lindy Blanchard, businessman Tim James, and Lew Burdette are some of the names being discussed in Montgomery circles as potential 2026 candidates. Attorney General Steve Marshall (R) has said that he is not running for Governor. U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R) recently said "You never say never" when asked about his leaving the Senate to run for Governor.

Davis served on the battleship U.S.S. Missouri during the Gulf War. He served on the nuclear powered aircraft carrier U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln during the Somalia conflict. He has also served in both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars as well as at the Pentagon. Davis is an attorney, a former judge advocate general (JAG) who has served in both the Army and the Navy, a former instructor for the Department of Homeland Security, and the former city manager of Anniston.

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