Fire Fighter-Supported Candidates Win in June 6 Primaries

June 14, 2006— The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and its state and local affiliates are working hard to help elect fire fighter-friendly candidates in the upcoming November elections. On June 6, several states held primary elections in which fire fighter-friendly candidates emerged victorious.

“I am proud of the strong political front our members have put forth in this round of elections,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “We campaigned hard for our supporters, and the results speak for themselves. We will work even harder for those candidates as we near the general election in November.”

One campaign the IAFF and its affiliate, the California Professional Firefighters (CPF), are watching closely is the California gubernatorial race. Historically, incumbent Arnold Schwarzenegger has opposed public employee pensions and other fire fighter issues. In November 2005, CPF was successful in stopping Schwarzenegger’s attack on public workers in a special election. In the primary election in June, the IAFF and CPF rallied behind State Treasurer Phil Angelides, who received 47.7 percent of the primary vote – winning against his challenger Steve Westly, who received 43.6 percent.

“We have had a positive 30-year working relationship with Phil,” says Lou Paulson, president of CPF. “He has always been loyal to us and very good on fire issues. As governor, he will most certainly be a voice that will look out for fire fighter benefits and working conditions.

“For the General election in November, we will be amplifying our efforts to get the word out. Phil is the one who will protect worker pensions and protect our rights as citizens.”

Also in California, Marin Local 1775 endorsed incumbent U.S. Representative Lynn Woolsey (D-District 6). Thanks to fire fighter support, Woolsey secured 66 percent of the vote, while her challenger – Joe Nation – received only 34 percent of the vote.

“We supported Woolsey because her voting record on fire fighter issues in Washington is 100 percent,” says Steve Warner, president of Local 1775. “Not only can we count on her vote, but she is very accessible when we need her help. We were glad to formally endorse her.”

In Iowa, two big races to watch in the U.S. House are the race for the District 1 seat and the race for the District 3 seat. Fire fighters have focused their support on Bruce Braley in the Democratic primary for District 1.

“The seat is vacant because Representative Jim Nussle is making a run for governor,” says Tom Powers, political director for Waterloo, IA Local 66. “The members of Local 66 strongly believe that he will prove to a staunch supporter of fire fighters.”

On June 6, Braley, an attorney and former head of the state trial lawyers association, came away with the most votes (37 percent) against his challengers, former state Senator Bill Gluba, Rick Dickinson and Denny Heath. He will face republican Mike Whalen in the general election in November.

“The November campaign will most certainly include all of the region’s locals,” says Powers. “We will continue to work hard for our candidate because he is the right one for the job.”

In Iowa’s District 3, the IAFF FIREPAC supported Leonard Boswell, who ran unopposed in the Democratic Primary. He will face republican Jeff Lamberti, also unopposed in the Republican primary, in November.

In Mississippi, U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson fought off a primary challenge from Chuck Espy, who received significant financial support from national Republicans trying to defeat Thompson with a candidate who was more aligned with the business community than with unions and working families. Thompson, who currently serves as the ranking Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, has worked with the IAFF on various legislative issues that have come before the committee.