Members of the Veterans Affairs Board strategized how to dismiss former Veterans Affairs Secretary John Scocos at least a week before he was fired, according to e-mails obtained by the Wisconsin State Journal.
The e-mails revealed that members of the Board developed ""talking points"" and a public relations plan on how to fire Scocos.
Scocos has since sued the Board after his November 2009 firing, claiming he was dismissed for political reasons.
The correspondence raises the question of whether the Board violated the state's open meetings law, which requires all governmental bodies to meet publically. According to the law, electronic communication could constitute an open meeting if the correspondence ""resembles an in-person discussion.""
Through e-mail, members of the Board discussed the need ""for a change"" in leadership and preparatory plans for Scocos' firing, including ""immediate physical removal"" and ""crowd control.""
In an e-mail between Board member Marv Freedman and Board Chairperson Marcia Anderson, Freedman asked Anderson to ""be sure that all the bases are covered from a technical standpoint, especially if the ‘ultimate decision' needs to be made.""
The state Department of Justice is representing the Board in Scocos' lawsuit and could not comment on the legality of the e-mail communications.
Scocos' attorney James Troupis also declined to comment Friday, noting he had not yet read the e-mails.
Amid speculation that Gov. Jim Doyle was involved in the Board's decision, Adam Collins, Doyle's spokesperson, said Doyle ""always had a good working relationship"" with Scocos.
""The governor has said that he was not involved in this. This was a decision that was made by the Veterans Affairs Board completely independently of the governor's office,"" he said.
