Committee recommends three candidates for Veterans Affairs Commission

Chair Supervisor Jane Kim called Item 3 to consider three appointments to the Veterans Affairs Commission to terms ending Jan. 31. The committee invited a number of applicants and supporters to speak.

Applicant Leo Madrid described his military service (U.S. Navy), volunteer work at the War Memorial Veterans Building and priorities including suicide and homelessness prevention. Several current commission members and veterans'service advocates urged appointment of three specific candidates and highlighted the need for legal expertise, outreach to incarcerated veterans and student-veteran representation in the commission.

Wallace Levin and Stephen Notzel, among others, testified that Michael Maffei (a deputy district attorney and Navy Reserve JAG officer), John Gallagher (a service officer with knowledge of veterans benefits) and Emily Burnett (a City College student-veteran active in campus veteran services) would bring complementary skills to the commission. Speakers emphasized work toward establishing a San Francisco veterans court modeled on programs in other jurisdictions and improved outreach to homeless veterans.

After discussion, the committee moved to forward Emily Burnett, John Gallagher and Michael Maffei to the full Board with recommendation. The committee did not record opposition during the floor action; full Board confirmation remains the next step.

The Rules Committee noted the recent turnover on the Veterans Affairs Commission and said the recommended nominees would diversify experience on the panel and support the commission's focus on homelessness and benefits access.

Next procedural steps: the full Board will consider the recommendations at its Dec. meeting, where final appointments will be made.