Culver won't reappoint Iowa Veterans Home commandant

DES MOINES - Gov. Chet Culver on Tuesday announced plans for a leadership change at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown.

The governor issued a statement indicating he did not intend to reappoint Dan Steen as the home's commandant after questions where raised about on-site doctor staffing at the facility and some physician pay levels.

"I appreciate the service Dan Steen has given to the state of Iowa as commandant of the Iowa Veterans Home. We are grateful for his work leading our state's facility to care for those who have served our nation," Culver said in a statement.

"However, as governor, I will not be submitting Mr. Steen's name to the Senate to be reappointed as commandant," Culver added. "I am considering changes and improvements to how state government is organized to better meet the needs of our veterans."

The governor indicated those planned changes would require new leadership at the veterans home.

Sen. Steve Warnstadt, D-Sioux City, an officer in the Iowa National Guard, said Steen did a good job managing the Marshalltown home with the state resources he had. But there were legislators who had concerns and questions that arose over some salary issues and whether doctors should be off premise at the nursing facility.

Warnstadt said it is not unusual for their to be periodic leadership changes within various state agencies or functions and it was within Culver's pursue to make such judgment calls.

"My sense is that the commandant has a strong team of support that can execute the decisions that need to be made," he said. "The policies are in place and the governor will appoint a new leader to provide any course corrections that they need to under take."

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