UPDATED Thursday, March 18, 2010 --- 11:30 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Members of the Wisconsin Veterans Affairs Board had detailed plans to fire Secretary John Scocos and replace him with Ken Black a week before voting to do so.

E-mails obtained by The Associated Press show three of the five board members who voted to fire Scocos in November had discussed nearly every detail about the firing beforehand, including whether he should be physically removed afterward.

Board members also shared talking points on how they should respond to questions from the public about the decision a full week before the vote.

The e-mails raise questions about whether the board violated the open meetings law. The Wisconsin Department of Justice advises public officials that "agreeing on a uniform course of action" before a meeting might be a violation.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Saturday, January 2, 2010 --- 6:30 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The state Department of Veterans Affairs board was in frequent contact with governor's office leading up to a meeting in which then-Secretary John Scocos was fired.

The Wisconsin State Journal reports the board is supposed to act independently of the governor and e-mails suggest the board's vice chairwoman, Marcia Anderson, sought direction from the governor's office before the Nov. 24 meeting with Scocos.

In e-mails obtained under the state's open records law, Anderson references a meeting sought by Doyle and mentions attempts to meet with his aides "to discuss the way ahead."

Anderson said she wanted to notify the governor's staff the board was planning a special meeting to discuss several issues. Gov. Jim Doyle says the board acted independently.

Scocos has sued the agency and its board members over his firing, alleging his rights to return to his job after deploying to Iraq were violated.

Information from:
Wisconsin State Journal
http://www.madison.com/wsj

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.

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UPDATED Thursday, December 10, 2009 --- 11:49 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Former state Veterans Affairs Secretary John Scocos has filed a lawsuit alleging he was unjustly fired.

The board that controls the state Department of Veterans Affairs fired Scocos last month, weeks after he returned from serving in Iraq with the U.S. Army Reserve. The board blamed Scocos for a host of financial and communications problems at the agency.

Scocos' lawsuit claims state and federal law guarantees soldiers ordered to active duty can't be fired for year without cause. He claims the board never gave him written notice of any cause for dismissal and "cruelly" chose to fire him two days before Thanksgiving.

DVA spokeswoman Kathleen Scholl had no immediate comment.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Friday, November 27, 2009 --- 7:45 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The leader of the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King says he skipped an August meeting with his boss because he knew he was going to be fired.

Home Commandant Bill Crowley told Department of Justice investigators he went to see his doctor instead of meeting with then-Acting Secretary Ken Black because he "knew what was coming."

Crowley says he learned later that morning through an e-mail sent to all staff that Black had indeed fired him. He says he was surprised because he thought it would have been handled more professionally.

Crowley's comments were contained in a summary of the interview with investigators released under the open records law.

Crowley was reinstated to the job this month by John Scocos, who was fired Tuesday as secretary and replaced with Black.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

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UPDATED Wednesday, November 25, 2009---10:17 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The new secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs has wasted no time in firing the agency's no. 3 official.

Executive Assistant Mike Trepanier says he was fired by Ken Black on Tuesday minutes after the board named Black the new secretary.

Trepanier says he was handed a letter saying his termination was effective immediately. When he returned to his office, he says he was already locked out of his computer.

Trepanier was loyal to Secretary John Scocos, who was fired by the board Tuesday and replaced with Black.

Black says his focus is on working with the board and veterans groups to fix problems in the agency.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Tuesday, November 24, 2009 --- 3:15 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The Wisconsin Veterans Affairs Board has fired Department Secretary John Scocos just two months after he returned from a tour of duty in Iraq.

The board fired Scocos during a special meeting in Madison after spending 90 minutes berating him for a series of missteps and miscommunications. They complained Scocos had kept them in the dark about key decisions.

Scocos said he was given the option of resigning but declined. He said his firing was unfair and he planned to take legal action against the board and its members alleging they violated a federal law that protects returning military members.

Scocos held the job since 2003.

The board named department administrator Ken Black the next secretary.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Tuesday, November 24, 2009 --- 10:23 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary John Scocos says the agency's board is treating him unfairly by reviewing his performance shortly after his return from Iraq.

Scocos says he's confused why the board called a special meeting for Tuesday afternoon to discuss his job. He says he's been back in the country less than 90 days, and Tuesday is the second time the board will meet for that purpose.

Scocos hinted he is considering filing a complaint alleging the board has violated a federal law that protects the job rights of those returning from military service. He says he'll "take whatever action necessary to protect my rights as a returning veteran."

Scocos served two tours in Iraq as a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, most recently returning in September.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Monday, November 23, 2009---11:20 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- E-mails show tension between members of the Wisconsin Veterans Affairs Board and Department Secretary John Scocos just as the board considers whether to retain him.

Vice Chair Marcia Anderson told Scocos last week in an e-mail she was "extremely dismayed" he did not notify the board about findings of a Department of Justice investigation until the next day.

She also accused Scocos of taking too long to update the board on the agency's internal investigation into the matter.

Scocos responded that he was "taken aback by the tone" of her e-mails. He said he provided all the information requested by the board as fast as he could.

The e-mails were obtained by The Associated Press through an open records request.

The board has called a special meeting Tuesday to consider Scocos' job performance.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Sunday, November 22, 2009 --- 7:55 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Veterans Affairs Board is calling a special meeting to again discuss the performance of Secretary John Scocos.

The board will meet Tuesday afternoon at the agency's headquarters in Madison. Board members met privately with Scocos last month to discuss their concerns, and some of his supporters worry his job is on the line.

Tuesday's meeting was abruptly called after Scocos made a series of personnel changes in recent weeks, including reinstating Bill Crowley as the commandant of the Veterans Home in King.

Crowley's reinstatement came after the Wisconsin Department of Justice declined to press criminal charges against anyone in connection with overspending at the home.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.

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UPDATED: Friday, October 16, 2009---10:58 a.m.

BROOKFIELD, Wis. (AP) -- Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary John Scocos says a closed-door meeting with the agency's board to discuss his job performance was productive.

Scocos told reporters after the 45-minute meeting at a Brookfield convention center he was ready to work with the board to serve the state's veterans. He would not detail what was said during the meeting, which his supporters worried was called to remove him as secretary.

Board Chairman Marv Freedman declined comment. Earlier, he denied the meeting was called to fire Scocos.

Scocos, a colonel with the U.S. Army Reserves, returned from his second tour of duty in Iraq last month just as the agency was facing questions over its management and spending. He has been secretary since 2003.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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BROOKFIELD, Wis. (AP) -- Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary John Scocos is tightlipped after a closed-door meeting with the agency's board to discuss his performance.

Scocos said he was still collecting his thoughts after the 45-minute meeting at a Brookfield convention center and not ready to comment. Asked whether he had been fired, as some of his supporters feared he would be, Scocos smiled and said, "I'm still here."

Board Chairman Marv Freedman also declined comment. Earlier, he denied the meeting was called to fire the secretary.

Scocos, a colonel with the U.S. Army Reserves, returned from his second tour of duty in Iraq last month just as the agency was facing questions over its management and spending. He has been secretary since 2003.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.