MONTGOMERY — After the State Board of Veterans Affairs failed to remove Kent Davis as commissioner of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, Gov. Kay Ivey used the “supreme executive power of this state” to immediately remove him from his position this afternoon.

In a letter hand-delivered to Davis, Ivey said she used the “supreme executive power of this state” in removing him from office.

“According to our State Supreme Court, this means at a minimum that a governor may take action to enforce the laws whenever he or she determines that such action is necessary because of  ‘inaction or inadequate action‘ by a subordinate within the exeuctive branch of government,” she wrote.

“Today, the State Board of Veterans Affairs failed to remove you immediately despite the ample legal causes I have publicly and repeatedly identified as justifying your removal. I therefore determine that your immediate removal is necessary to ensure that, going forward, the laws governing the Department of Veterans Affairs will be properly executed and enforced. 

“By copy of this letter, you are hereby removed as Commissioner for the Department of Veterans Affairs, and, pursuant to the Board’s vote at its October 10th meeting, Jeffrey L. Newton is now Interim Commissioner of Veterans Affairs. The relevant state officials, including Interim Commissioner Newton, are hereby directed to take the necessary steps to effectuate this removal.”

Ivey had alleged Davis mismanaged ARPA funds and called for his resignation in early September. Davis has denied the claims and refused to resign.