COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The selection of the next Branch County Department of Veterans Affairs Director has become a messy affair in recent days.
Four members of the Branch County Board of Commissioners recommended on October 8 that retired Air Force Sgt. Whitney Lewis be the next director with Commissioner Tom Matthew abstaining.
But the recommendation was turned down by the local V.A. Board last week. They instead voted 2-1 to name Jacqueline Yap to the position.
Yap is the daughter of current V.A. Director Charles Scott who is retiring at the end of the year after over two decades on the job. The news of Yap’s hiring led to cries of nepotism on various social media platforms.
Yap was scheduled to take over on November 4 but the criticism over her selection has led her to inform County Administrator Bud Norman that she will not accept the position, “due to the harassment my family is receiving online and in the office.”
The Commissioners interviewed Lewis, Yap and Callie Curtis for the job after there were 23 applications submitted.
Lewis expressed her disappointment about the decision to the County Commissioners during Tuesday’s meeting.
In another twist, the Commissioners later during Tuesday’s meeting accepted Vicky Scott’s resignation from the V.A. Board. She is the wife of Charles Scott and recused herself from the voting on the next director.
Commissioner Tom Matthew read two letters from Vicky Scott. The first stated she wanted to resign from the board as of December 31, 2024. But the second one dated on Monday indicated she had changed her mind and wanted to stay on the board.
Commission Chair Tim Stoll had a blunt reaction to the situation and felt the resignation should be accepted immediately.
The Commissioners voted 4-1 to accept her resignation effective on Tuesday. Matthew cast the only no vote.
Besides the immediate V.A. board vacancy, another one is scheduled to take place on January 1, 2025.
Guess people are tired of nepotism!