COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Applications to be the next Branch County Veterans Service officer are being accepted through next Friday, January 17, 2025.
After initially announcing his retirement then rescinding it due to a controversy surrounding the selection of his replacement, Branch County Veterans Services Officer Charles Scott is stepping down as February 28, 2025.
Scott told the Branch County Board of Commissioners last month he has been diagnosed with cancer.
V.A. Board member Andrew Labadee told Commissioners on Tuesday there has been a high volume of requests for transportation and emergency relief.
The Branch County Veterans Board will do the interviews and pick the new service officer.
The controversy over Scott’s replacement began after the county Board of Commissioners interviewed three candidates in October and selected retired Air Force Sgt. Whitney Lewis for the job. But the veterans board voted to name Scott’s daughter, Jacqueline Yap, to replace him after interviews.
County Administrator Bud Norman then informed commissioners that a 1953 state law mandated that the veterans board, not the commission, make the selection. Later Yap informed Norman she would not accept the position because of what she described as “family harassment.”
I think it’s only plausible to understand the meaning of “nepotism” here. If a candidate who is qualified for the position came to the conclusion that a daughter had more priority over his or qualifications, anyone in their due diligence and professional path to serve veterans in the highest capacity would be offended. Throughout our community, people meet online, they meet in person and they discuss their grievances. Sometimes, those concerns do make their way back to the appropriate person.
What bothers citizens, is the appearance of nepotism, favoritism, and the back channel of not belonging to a group or circle of freinds that have influence over elections, appointments, or choosing the right person for the job. With the emergence of social media, and with citizens educating themselves regarding their political sphere in their own home town, my guess is that the long time standing individuals who continue to be chosen over fresh new thinking with qualified experience, may find themselves under scrutiny that otherwise would go unchallenged.
There’s an old 1970’s song that is still quite popular even today..”Don’t rock the boat baby, dont tip the boat over”….
Try to get Whitney Lewis to accept the position again after a sincere apology of course. Maybe the Veterans Board has had time to reconsider her appointment.