Alaska Fire Fighters Rally in Support of Tony Knowles for Governor

October 3, 2006 - IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger joined Professional Fire Fighters of Alaska President Mark Drygas and more than 150 fire fighters from throughout the state for a September 29 press conference and rally in support of Tony Knowles for governor of Alaska. A Vietnam veteran and former governor of Alaska (1994-2002), Knowles is a strong advocate for public safety.

“I’m here in support of fire fighters across the state of Alaska,” Schaitberger told the assembled crowd, “and to help get the word out about why Tony Knowles is the right candidate to protect the communities and the state of Alaska.”

Knowles is an experienced candidate with a track record and commitment to providing first responders with the staffing, tools and protections to do their jobs and care for their families. He fully supports the Professional Fire Fighters of Alaska’s efforts to return to a defined benefit retirement program, adoption of presumptive legislation to protect fire fighters exposed to stress, smoke, heat and toxic substances and statewide collective bargaining rights for public safety employees, among other issues important to fire fighters.

“Tony Knowles’s record is a record that shows the values of a man committed to keeping the state and its citizens safe,” said Schaitberger in his introduction of Knowles. “It’s a long record of commitment and success for Alaskans that is the reason this state’s fire fighters and the 275,000-member IAFF support Knowles over his opponent.”