Virginia Fire Fighters Take Aggressive Political Action Approach

April 17, 2008 – Lynchburg, VA local 1146 is taking a strong, proactive approach to the fight for safe staffing, working conditions and benefits. Over the next three weeks, Local 1146 fire fighters will be campaigning hard to elect four public safety supporters to the Lynchburg City Council.

The local is endorsing incumbents Dr. Mike Gillette, Reverend Caesor Johnson and Jeff Helgeson. Lynchburg fire fighters are also supporting newcomer Turner Perrow.

This is not the first time the fire fighters have taken political action. But this election cycle, Local 1146 is using a more focused approach. Several members of the local attended a political action class at the last Affiliate Leadership Training Summit (ALTS) and applied the strategies learned there and to their overall campaign plan.

As it chose who to endorse, Local 1146 looked at past records of the incumbents, asked all candidates to fill out an issue-based questionnaire and held a candidate forum.

“Each candidate we endorsed demonstrated to us their commitment to public safety and to our fire fighters,” says Jason Campbell, president of Local 1146. “Like other IAFF affiliates, we look to support candidates who are supportive of issues important to us: staffing, safety, compensation and benefits. We do not base our support on political party affiliation.”

Election day is May 6, 2008.