Philadelphia's choice for veterans affairs chief stirs ire

Robert Politz seemed to be an ideal candidate to lead the city's reconstituted veterans affairs office: 20 years' experience in the field, a master's degree in counseling, and a Vietnam service record.

That resume, however, did not impress City Council President Anna C. Verna. Ignoring the unanimous recommendation of Council's own Veterans Advisory Commission last month, Verna passed Politz over and gave the job instead to a man with no college degree and zero experience in veterans affairs: Democratic ward leader and former City Commissioner Edgar Howard.

At first, the $50,000-a-year director's job looked like a serious pay cut for Howard, who made $102,000 as a commissioner before voters turned him out of office; he failed to win renomination in the May primary. But Verna raised the director's pay to $80,000 a year by eliminating the office's deputy director position.

The maneuver has infuriated city veterans.

"It got me upset that we couldn't get the candidate we all thought was best, but what really burns my bridges is that he's got the gall to take the director's money and the deputy's money," said Ernest Landers, a member of the Veterans Advisory Commission and an American Legion leader. "It's a slap in the face to veterans."

The city's American Legion chapter has begun drafting a resolution condemning Verna's decision and declaring that Council "does not consider the interests of veterans to be of any concern or interest to them."

Verna defended her selection. The commission, she noted, did identify Howard as a candidate for the director's post. "They submitted two names, and we were told to make a choice," Verna said. "The choice was made. I don't know what else I can possibly say."

In its letter to Verna, the commission recommended Politz over Howard. "It was unanimously agreed that Mr. Politz was well skilled and met all the criteria necessary to effectively carry out the duties and responsibilities of the position," read the commission's Jan. 17 letter to Verna, which was obtained by The Inquirer.

The letter identified Howard as the "next most qualified candidate," and explicitly recommended him for the job of assistant director, at a salary of $40,000 a year.

In Verna's view, however, Howard's background made him the superior choice.

"I knew Edgar Howard's work as a city commissioner, I've seen his skills dealing with people, and I really thought his skills would translate well to dealing with veterans," Verna said, noting she had conferred with other Council members who agreed with her decision.

Verna opted to give Howard most of the assistant director's salary as well because the position was superfluous, said Anne Kelly-King, Verna's chief accounting officer. The last director, Thomas Finnerty, was making $58,000 when he retired in 2006.

Howard, who has been in his new job for a month, said the fact he had been given the top post and a larger salary was a "very pleasant surprise."

He readily acknowledged he has no experience in veterans affairs and no college degree. The posted job description calls for a "minimum" of five years' experience in the field and a bachelor's degree.

The director's job is to connect veterans to city, state, and federal services, helping them claim benefits they're entitled to. The advisory commission is particularly interested in having the city do more to help homeless vets get the assistance they need.

Howard is a veteran, having served in the Army's 101st Airborne Division. And he is indisputably wired to the city's political scene.

Asked if he thought that explained why he won the job, Howard replied: "Politics is politics."

"What I bring is valuable contacts that can only help elevate the office," Howard said.

Robert Politz offered different credentials: two decades devoted to helping and counseling veterans, including two years with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and an encyclopedic knowledge of the local, state and federal veterans services.

Last week, Politz, 60, wrote an impassioned letter to Mayor Nutter, imploring him to exercise "fearless leadership" and intervene. The letter castigated Verna and Council for their "shameful disregard of the efforts of the Veterans Advisory Commission" and their "complete and utter failure to put the interest of the people ahead of the greed and self-preservation of a few."

Politz said he debated whether or not to write the letter for weeks, concerned that it would come across as sour grapes.

"I'm not interested in pursuing anything in terms of employment. This really now is a matter of legitimizing the advisory commission and not using the office as some kind of depository for politicos," Politz said.

Nutter, however, will not be getting involved.

Administration spokesman Doug Oliver said the matter "rests squarely within the purview of the Council president."

"The mayor trusts the Council president's judgment and respects her right to make the call," Oliver said.

That's bound to disappoint Politz, who sees the episode as a case of politicians taking care of their own at the expense of taxpayers and citizens who rely on city services.

"You know the reality of this stuff exists," Politz said. "But when you see it firsthand, it's an eye-opener."