October 10, 2006 – Approximately 100 members from IAFF locals in southern Nevada joined IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger, Professional Fire Fighters of Nevada President Rusty McAllister and U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) for a October 3 rally in support of Nevada State Senator and gubernatorial candidate Dina Titus at the Clark County, NV Local 1908 union headquarters.

An advocate for public safety and homeland security, Titus addressed her plan for ensuring that public safety and homeland security issues are made a priority in Nevada, and reaffirmed her ongoing support for first responders. She faces U.S. Representative Jim Gibbons (R-NV) in the November election.

President Schaitberger spoke to the crowd, standing in support of Nevada’s fire fighters. “Our members understand service, commitment, duty and sacrifice,” he said. “And that’s what they look for in a candidate. That’s why they support Dina Titus for governor.”

Titus’ State Senate record of support for fire fighters and other public safety workers includes support for collective bargaining, presumptive issues and defined benefit retirement plans, among other issues of importance to public safety workers and first responders.

Nevada’s fire fighters have not been included at the state level in discussions dealing with homeland security funding and priorities – while police officers have. As a result, funding has not been made available to provide training, staffing, equipment and other resources fire fighters need to ensure public safety.

“There is a critical problem in Nevada that needs to be fixed,” said Schaitberger. “The message that Nevada’s fire fighters want everyone in the state to hear loud and clear is that just as the citizens of Nevada trust their fire fighters to protect them and their families, the fire fighters of Nevada trust Dina Titus to make sure they are protected.”