Joel Kintsel led the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs into a very public feud with Governor Kevin Stitt. (Photo by Kennedy Thomason/Oklahoma Voice)
Editor’s note: This story is part of Oklahoma Voice’s year-end series “Whatever Happened To…”, which provides updates on some of the stories that captured the interest of Oklahomans in 2023 and 2024.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Joel Kintsel has largely disappeared from the public eye after a very public feud with Oklahoma’s governor.
But the 49-year-old said he would be interested in returning to public service if the right opportunity presents itself.
More than a year ago, Kintsel found himself unemployed after a board filled with appointees of Gov. Kevin Stitt fired him as executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs.
The resignation followed Kintsel’s failed 2022 attempt to secure the Republican nomination for governor of Oklahoma. Stitt also ran for re-election to the same post.
Kintsel, who has led the state’s veterans department since 2019, accused the Stitt administration of being “full of corruption, self-dealing and cronyism” and had vowed to clean it up.
Stitt’s campaign declined to comment on the remarks at the time.
Stitt defeated Kintsel and two other Republicans in the June 28, 2022 primary, receiving 69% of the vote. Stitt was subsequently elected to a second term.
Then Stitt began replacing committee members who supported Kintsel. The panel, not Stitt, determined the appointment of the agency’s director.
In March 2023, the Oklahoma Veterans Commission fired Kintsel in a 5-1 vote.
Kintsel had skipped several committee meetings, claiming the panel was meeting illegally because Stitt’s appointments were not valid.
Today, Kintsel practices law in Oklahoma City.
He still views his dismissal as political retaliation.
“It’s downright unethical to have your political opponent fired after you win the election,” Kintsel said during a recent interview. “That’s what happened. It is telling that he had to terminate almost the entire assignment to achieve that.”
Stitt’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Kintsel serves as a lieutenant colonel in the Oklahoma Air National Guard and staff advocate advocate for the 137th Special Operations Wing at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City.
He served as a lawmaker for fourteen years under seven speakers in the Oklahoma House.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Oklahoma State University and a law degree from the University of Oklahoma.
“I really enjoyed supporting and assisting Oklahoma’s veterans,” Kintsel said.
He does pro bono work for charities.
He and his wife Nancy have two children.
He does not rule out a new period in public service.
“If the opportunity to move into the public sector presents itself again, I would be open to it,” he said.
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