Rules Committee deadlocks on Veterans Affairs Commission seat, forwards both nominees to full Board

The Rules Committee on Sept. 9 heard competing nominations for a seat on the Veterans Affairs Commission and, after extended public testimony from veterans and organizations, forwarded both candidates to the full Board of Supervisors without recommendation.

The two applicants who addressed the committee were Steven Notsell, who told the committee he would push for financial transparency and a renewed programmatic focus to serve returning veterans, and Wallace (Wally) Levin, the incumbent commission president who described his long record of veterans’ events and steady leadership on Memorial Day and Veterans Day programming.

Both candidates and large numbers of veteran advocates spoke. Notsell argued that the commission should be ready to absorb and deploy new federal and state resources for returning veterans, saying he would introduce “long‑sought financial transparency” for commission activities. Levin, who is the current president of the Veterans Affairs Commission, emphasized continuity and his decades of civic involvement in veterans’ causes, telling the committee he would continue existing services and leadership.

Public testimony was heavily contested: speakers representing veterans’ organizations and members of the public provided extended support for each candidate, with some urging rotation and new leadership and others urging continuity and experience. After the public comment period, committee members concluded the Rules panel could not reach a majority decision and moved the item to the full Board.

Committee action: the Rules Committee voted to forward both nominees to the full Board of Supervisors without recommendation; the full Board will consider the appointment at a subsequent meeting.

What this means: the final appointment will be decided by the full Board of Supervisors; the committee’s action sends both names forward for consideration with the competing public comments on record.