Veterans planning rally
Coleman, who said he has no political ties or aspirations, said all veterans and their families are needed at a rally slated for 11 a.m. Friday in front of the Fayette County Courthouse. Flyers announcing the rally say the purpose of the gathering is to get answers about the veterans affairs director position.
“Why can’t Fayette County keep a V.A. director?, Why do they leave office so soon?, Why can’t Fayette County give this position top priority?,” the flyers state.
With more than 17,000 veterans, Fayette County has more veterans per capita than most other counties.
The county has lost six veterans affairs directors in the last five years. The most recent director to depart, Floyd “Wayne” Coddington, left in August after eight months in the position.
When he resigned, Coddington said he is not a political person but he believes that requests to delve into sensitive information that he received were politically motivated, and he said he would not break the law. Coddington claimed he didn’t receive the tools necessary to run his office, adding that Commissioner Vincent A. Vicites personally asked him to dabble into people’s private records in violation of medical privacy laws.
Vicites said he did not ask Coddington to release any information that he was not permitted to release.
“I always told him to follow the law,” Vicites said.
While some of those who have left have said the pay is too low, Coleman said it’s not all about that issue; it’s also about the politics that is involved with the job.
Coleman, who has been distributing flyers announcing the event as well as making an appearance on a local radio station, said he would like the veterans who attend the rally to be able to ask questions and “speak their peace.”
Coleman, recently selected as a member of the Fayette County Veterans Liaison Committee, said he simply wants the county’s veterans to be served.
“We have a problem in the county keeping VA directors,” Coleman said.
Coleman said he would like to see the politics kept out of the position, and for the director to be able to do their job.
“We’re at war,” Coleman said, adding that more veterans are coming home to Fayette County all the time.
Coleman also is asking veterans in a separate flyer to attend Thursday’s commissioners meeting at 10 a.m. in the public safety building. He has requested to be placed on the agenda to speak about the issue.
“All veterans of Fayette County are requested to assemble for the meeting to show their support for our veterans association director’s position. It is imperative that we support all measures to have our local government be held accountable for spending appropriations for that office,” the flyer states.
The veterans liaison committee, of which Coleman recently became a member, has been instrumental is interviewing and recommending candidates for the veterans affairs director position in the past.
Although Coddington left his position in August, the commissioners have not yet advertised for or filled the position. There is currently a county hiring freeze because of a lack of a state budget.