Southard’s seat on the board was an at-large one, which means that, according to state law, it should be filled by recommendations of the Military Order of the Purple Heart of the U.S.A., the Vietnam Veterans of America, or the Korean War Veterans Association.
But because none of the organizations exist in Butler County, Prosecutor Mike Gmoser interpreted the statute to mean that all constitutionally created veterans organizations needed to be asked for recommendations for the at-large seat.
As of Friday, Oney had received nominations — the required three per post — from the American Legion posts in Hamilton, Middletown and West Chester Twp.; the AmVets post in Hamilton and the Fairfield and West Chester Twp. VFW posts. Vets from the Marine Corps League Detatchment 1330 and the Fairfield DAV posts have said they won’t be sending names.
A couple well known Butler County names are on the list of candidates, namely Fairfield Police Chief Mike Dickey and West Chester Twp. Trustee Lee Wong. In his application, Dickey said he will be retiring in early 2016 and wants to continue being a public servant.
“This appointment would permit me to continue to serve a community that has been most gracious to me and my family,” he wrote. “Our veterans in need deserve the best we can offer. I would be honored to be selected to assist in fulfilling that need.”
Wong noted on his application that he is a former Butler County Veterans Commissioner and as a township trustee manages a $56 million budget. The Butler County Veterans Commission oversees a $2 million annual budget.
James A. Stever, a county resident and professor emeritus at the University of Cincinnati, recently wrote a letter to the editor of the Journal-News finding fault with the way commissioners are picked.
“Veterans posts have sunk into the practice of including unqualified cronies among their nominations. Butler County judges should stop this practice immediately by insisting that only veterans with management experience and knowledge of veterans policy are appointed,” Stever wrote.
Of the candidates who listed their age it appears the oldest person vying for the job is 80-year-old Donald Lickert, who is a former Hamilton fire chief. Michael Farmer, a senior library assistant at Miami University is the youngest at 34. Former county commissioner candidate George Nafziger holds the highest educational degree with a PhD from The Union Institute, three people have masters’ degrees, five have bachelors and the rest graduated from high school. It appears, of the people who listed their work experience at least eight people have held management positions.
Oney said this week that not only is it important that the new member be able to get along with the group that has been dubbed dysfunctional, but has a history of service to veterans. She said a college degree is a plus but not a mandate.
“It’s important and I think they have to know something about finances,” the judge said. “A lot of them seemed to know kind of what’s going on with finances. I’m not going to say I’m not going to take someone just because they don’t have a college education. What I’m looking for is how much have they been engaged with veterans in the past.”
Oney has already interviewed eight people and has three more interviews scheduled so far this week. She said it will take her a couple days after the last interview to announce her selection.
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