Hobbs Rehires Ousted Agency Director at Full Salary for Fresh Role

Dana Allmond, a former legislative candidate and the previous head of the Department of Veterans’ Services under Governor Katie Hobbs, has been appointed to a newly created role at the Department of Economic Security (DES) with an annual salary of $170,000. This position appears to have been established specifically for Allmond following her replacement as head of Veterans’ Services.

The director of DES, Michael Wisehart, confirmed during a recent Senate confirmation hearing that Allmond’s role is focused on connecting veterans with available services. However, Senators, particularly committee chair Jake Hoffman, raised concerns regarding the necessity of this position, questioning its existence when similar functions are already managed by the Department of Veterans’ Services.

Hoffman criticized the creation of the new role, suggesting it was a maneuver to accommodate Allmond after her failed nomination for Veterans’ Services due to lack of qualifications. “The role appears to be duplicative given that DES has been managing veteran services adequately without her involvement,” Hoffman stated.

Allmond initially led the Department of Veterans’ Services after her appointment in early 2023 but was demoted after Hobbs withdrew her nomination amidst political scrutiny. Despite this setback, Allmond retains the same salary in her new DES position, which is funded by federal stimulus dollars.

While Wisehart has acknowledged that Allmond was under contract prior to his appointment as DES director, he emphasized her involvement in community outreach aimed at aiding veterans. However, the details regarding her specific duties remain vague, leading to skepticism about the efficiency of her role.

The statement that Allmond is tasked with addressing issues like veteran homelessness and suicide rates has not assuaged critics. Hoffman pointedly asked Wisehart about the efficiency of employing someone in a role deemed non-essential by the very agency responsible for veteran services.

Other workforce changes at DES include the hiring of Marcus Trombetta, who has a similar contractual role with a lower salary of $114,000 a year. The rationale behind this additional position remains unclear.

Allmond’s political aspirations faltered in 2022 when she ran for a House seat but lost to her Republican opponents. Her latest appointment marks a significant shift in Hobbs’ handling of DES and veteran services, following a previous internal reshuffle that saw Wisehart appointed and then replaced.

The developments surrounding Allmond’s position have drawn scrutiny and questions about the state’s commitment to transparency and efficiency in the management of its veteran assistance programs.