Jackson Jambalaya

This is a great pick. Mark will be an excellent director.

I appreciate his service, but what a gig.

He's got an 0-6 military pension, and he's within sight of the finish line for a good ole PERS annuity with a high 4 somewhere in the mid-100s.

Some folks have it rough. I hope he left MDHS far behind.

I hope this selection is a man of high moral character-

Will he bring the doctors back from the border and make them work where they are supposed to work? I haven't been able to see a doctor since covid was a baby.

I don't know Mark. I have heard good things about him. So I hope this is a good decision that will serve the veterans well.

I'm still flabbergasted that someone was ignorant enough to hire Stacey Pickering in the first place.

11:07? Care to explain a little more? I have had plenty of Dr. visits at the Jackson VA (which really has nothing to do with MS VA).

@ 11;07; He Heads the Mississippi Veterans Affairs Board which has no effect on the Federal VA who took the Doc's on a trip south.

I hear good things about him.

So no competitive process just a unilateral selection

I hear good things about him.

Must have missed the job posting

Hope he cleans house. The CFO was smart enough to exit that dumpster fire

Wow, this was done in secret? Their attorney needs a lesson in public meetings. You can’t post blank agendas

11:21AM, I go to the Jackson VA, or I used to. I haven't seen a doctor since one of mine left the VA over two years ago. Went to the emergency room and got kicked out. Don't even know the name of my doctor since mine left the VA.
Last thing I heard Joe sent all of the doctors to the border to care for the illegals. I do know you can't speak to one on the phone. You can not even speak to a live person. I would have better care if i would have stayed in Nam.

Just guessing he won't have his assistant bent over the desk.

A fine human being and true public servant. Excellent choice.

Will he have access to the same perks (wink, wink) as the former director?

What's the matter 10:40, you weren't smart enough to start planning your career out in your 20's???? Too bad on you.

Mark Smith was the type commander every soldier wishes they served under. He is a no nonsense man who is fair and above reproach. He is smart, level headed and was a commander to apply common sense to situations. He will look you in the eye and tell the truth, even if it's not what you want to hear.

If he called me today and told me he needed me go on a mission with him, I gladly pack my bags to go without any explanation of where we were going and what we'd be doing.

I glad he saw what a train wreck MDHS was and left. As I was nearing the end my career in the military, he called to talk to me about my future plans and offered me advice, which I took to heart. That's the kind of man he is.

Mississippi state government leadership could stand to have another 500 just like him!

Didn’t consult the leadership on that homes or cemeteries. Tone deaf

12:04 what don't you get about the difference between the VA ( Federal control) and the MISSISSIPPI VETERANS AFFAIRS (MSVA)?

I will write it slow, so you can read it slow: The MSVA Doesn't Have Anything To Do With The VA Hospital. (State controlled)

I call BS on all your talk. I've there 3 (would have been 4, but I rescheduled one appointment) times in the last two weeks and I saw & talked to all my providers...... Yesterday I had a future appointment that conflicted with non-VA appointment. Called to reschedule, on hold 5 minutes, TALKED to a real person and got new appointment one day later than original!!!

Two weeks ago, got letter that my primary provider had left the VA, gave name of my new provider and new appointment date for a face to face 1st time consult......

Wonder what your real problem is.......I have a good idea after reading your
"Nam" statement.

This board is executing the “do it all wrong at full speed” play book

I guess there weren’t any other veterans who wished to be considered

Mark Smith is a perfect choice. I had the pleasure of working for him. He is a great leader.

"This is a great pick. He will be an excellent director. This is a great pick. He will be an excellent director."

Is it my failed hearing or is there an echo in here? That's the same thing we heard when Pickering's appointment was announced just a few years ago.

These selection people just ain't come around to 'woke' yet. Give 'em time.

Note to the man having problems with the VA hospital in Jackson. I also had some of the same problems. Two of my doctors quit the VA. One said she couldn't continue to work in a place that treated the veterans like the Jackson VA did. I had problems getting prescriptions filled. My doctor didn't believe me and tried calling the pharmacy from her office. She couldn't get an answer. I found a way to get my medication by accident. I had been calling all day long. It was after 4:30 PM and all the phones at Jackson VA were not being answered. My call was transferred to a VA in Arkansas. The filled my prescription and said if I ever needed help to call them. I do not call the Jackson VA for prescriptions now. Mine comes from another VA.

For the person who answered your post. That person is probably one of the doctors that have not been to the VA for work in over a year. He or she is probably setting at home collecting a paycheck.

Why wasn’t the position posted and a competitive interview for all qualified candidates conducted? The MSVA Board has once again dodged their responsibilities. Reeves needs to replace the Board. No disrespect to Mark but there are other qualified veterans available that were interested in the position. Mark was there when Pickering was monkeying around with his assistant but he said nothing about it.

Veteran Affairs is long overdue adult leadership. That so called team of high paid clowns was a circus and Pickering was the circus master. I wish Mr. Smith the best of luck

Well 4:34 & 6:08, Pickering was a politician and presented a profile for people to see. People knew, but decided to keep quite.

Mark Smith may have know about the side chick, but doesn't play politics and use dirty politics to advance his career. He does his job and does it well and lets that speak for him

6:08, it doesn't need to be posted. It is a will and pleasure position and there is no guarantee for it to last more than a week. I sure other candidates there were recommended and wanted it, but I'd bet Mark smith had way more positive points considering his education level, background handling finances.
If he'd not been selected, he'd still be there tomorrow doing his job and working to get the choice up to speed.

My guess if you were in the position you'd do the same thing and accept the job. So why didn't you throw your hat in the ring? Riddle us that hotshot!!

@6:54

There was no ring to throw a hat in. Why don’t you act like a pro and respond to media requests.

@12:22 and others in support. I appreciate your comments. My father was career military and served under Col. Smith for well over a decade (if I recall correctly). I also have worked with Veterans in various clinical and forensic roles for over two decades now, and I have colleagues that have worked with him in some capacity after his military service. I have never heard anything but accolades about his character from anyone that ever worked with or served under his leadership. I also met him early in my academic pursuits and near the time of my father’s death, and I agree 100% with all the positive comments. I have decades of unsolicited data from many sources that affirm the same positive impressions given here, and I am thrilled to see he was chosen. Every soldier I know that worked with or under him feels the same as you stated. IMO, bloggers can speculate and naysay all they wish. I don’t think there could have been a better selection.

Mark Smith won't be able to excel until he cleans house. There are still several snakes slithering around that Admin office left over from the Pickering reign of foolishness. Pickering is too dumb to get away with all he did so common sense tells you he had help carrying out his corruption. There's a lot more that went on than just an affair.

Smith gets to benefit from the hard work of one person who modernized that agency, built out its programming, built out its social platforms, designed its data driven systems, and built up the staff. That person is not Pickering

@6:41 am

Case in point, I have never seen a state employee get a $10K year over year raise 3 years in a row.

https://www.openthebooks.com/members/employer-detail/?Id=92930&tab=1&F_Name_S=Palmer&Year_S=0

@6:41 Dude, it's Stacey Pickering we are talking about. Of course there is a lot more that went on than just an affair. I wouldn't hire that clown to run a subdivision corner lemonade stand. He's a snake oil salesman. He is the worst of the worst. He's not just a bad leader and employee. He's a bad person.

I don't know Mark Smith. but I've heard good things about him, so I'm hopeful this is a good hire that can get things going in the correct direction. I want to see him, and the agency, be successful. I hope he works hard and improves everything daily.

To be fair, Stacey did many great things for the MSVA agency.

Stacey made a mockery of veterans. The only great things he initiated were things he could personally profit from. Wake up people. It's time out for defending wrong doing

@3:11 “many great things” such as stealing 205 days/$118,260 of leave time from the state during his tenure? Not to mention, the affair, huge raises given to the paramour and blatant workforce retaliation against his employees for exposure of his “great” accomplishments. As stated earlier, “to be fair”, he made a mockery of the MSVA agency.

The real question is what will Pickering pretend to next? Surgeon? Dentist? River Boat Captain?

So he was hired in April as the deputy without an announcement then hired in June as the executive director without an announcement?

So what is the board trying to hide? Who is he protecting?


Why not announce the job and find the most qualified individual? If you limit your talent pool to one person how have you done your job as a board?

MS Veterans Affairs Board is a “public body” with a track record of abusing the open meetings act. The Board and the agency is in desperate need of competent leadership, especially considering that every competent person in the leadership whose rapid rise and bloated salary was tied to enabling Pickering has now jumped ship.

Veterans of Mississippi deserve better!

Who is advising this Board on legal matters? Does he or she have a license to practice law? Can I mail him or her a code book?

CORRECTION:

MS Veterans Affairs Board is a “public body” with a track record of abusing the open meetings act. The Board and the agency is in desperate need of competent leadership, especially considering that every competent person in the leadership whose rapid rise and bloated salary was NOT tied to enabling Pickering has now jumped ship. 

Veterans of Mississippi deserve better!

@3:11 pm

Face it, Stacey Pickering will be remembered, if at all, for an RV and an affair. It’s unfortunate he didn’t join the two for a clever bumper sticker