Rules Committee recommends Ishikata, Chittabaugh and Rusinoff for Veterans Affairs Commission

The Rules Committee voted unanimously May 3 to forward three names to the full Board to fill vacancies on the Veterans Affairs Commission: incumbent George Ishikata (seat 2, reappointment), Jason Chittabaugh (seat 4) and Nicholas Rusinoff (seat 12). Clerk Victor Young read Item 2 at the start of the Veterans portion of the hearing, noting the item covers one seat with a term ending Jan. 31, 2023 and two seats with terms ending Jan. 31, 2025.

Chair Aaron Peskin and committee members reviewed background materials in the packet, noting the Commission has 17 seats (12 appointed by the Board of Supervisors, five by the mayor), that terms are staggered, and that section 5.102 requires at least three women veterans among the Commission’s members. Clerk Young and the Chair also cautioned that any residency waiver would require an ordinance by the Board.

Eleven applicants were under consideration; several spoke to their experience and priorities. Dr. David Cortman, an anesthesia resident and veteran, emphasized clinical care and discharge planning for veterans with complex needs and urged the Commission to connect healthcare professionals to its policy work. Incumbent George Ishikata described the Commission as a policy body that has too little institutional support: "we have no funding, no funding line...we have no full time staff nor shared full time staff," he said, framing the Commission as effectively an "orphan" that relies on volunteers. Multiple public commenters and representatives of veterans’ programs urged appointments of candidates with hands-on outreach experience; public testimony for Nicholas Rusinoff was particularly extensive and included endorsements from veterans, clinicians and a county veteran services officer.

Victor Olveri, the President of the Veterans Affairs Commission, presented the Commission’s official recommendation for two candidates and emphasized the Commission’s need to recruit veterans with subject-matter expertise. Chair Peskin said he welcomed the idea of discussing an administrative-code change to better resource the Commission.

Supervisor Connie Chan moved to forward reappointment of George Ishikata (seat 2) and nominations of Jason Chittabaugh (seat 4) and Nicholas Rusinoff (seat 12) to the full Board with the committee’s recommendation. The roll call recorded "aye" votes from Supervisor Rafael Mandelmann, Supervisor Connie Chan and Chair Aaron Peskin; the motion passed without objection and will go to the full Board.