Election 2022: FIREPAC Wins Lead the Way

June 10 • 2022

Fire fighters won up and down the ballot this November, thanks in part to FIREPAC – the IAFF’s political action fund. Our agenda – protecting members’ health and safety, guaranteeing the terms and conditions of work, and securing dignified retirements – was on the ticket, and the IAFF showed that “when we fight, we win.”

“Our communities are safer with expert fire and EMS services – and with politicians who understand the importance of that,” said General President Edward Kelly. “No one understands our needs better than we do, so we are always eager to support our own in the political arena. As long as politicians are involved in our ability to fight fires, fire fighters will be involved in politics.”

Here’s a look at FIREPAC-supported members elected to office, as well as FIREPAC-backed ballot initiatives focused on bargaining, equipment, staffing, and training.

Frederick County, MD

More than 55 percent of the Frederick County, MD electorate opposed a county council referendum to remove binding arbitration. The initiative would have had severe implications for fire fighters across the state if passed. In addition to funding, the IAFF helped Local 3666 craft messaging, develop a field and campaign plan, create campaign graphics and mailers, and manage all digital media ads.

Illinois State Rep. Mike Kelly, Local 2

Mike Kelly, an 18-year member of Chicago Local 2, won his first full term in the Illinois House, representing the 15th District. Kelly, who was appointed to the seat in November 2021, secured 70 percent of the vote.

Oregon State Rep. Dacia Grayber, Local 1660

Dacia Grayber, a 15-year fire fighter and paramedic with Tualatin Valley, Local 1660, won reelection to the Oregon State House and was named her conference’s assistant majority leader. In her first two years in the state house, she served as Chair of Veterans and Emergency Management and the Vice Chair of Business and Labor. She is on the Ways and Means Public Safety and Wildfire Committees. Grayber led the fight to expand the state’s fire fighter cancer presumption and worker’s compensation improvements for Oregon’s fire fighters. “Fighting fires is a team effort, and so is politics,” she said. “Having the support of my IAFF family as I strive to continue bringing and passing policies that benefit our fire fighter sisters and brothers and the communities we serve is essential to success as a legislator. I’m so honored to have that support.”

 

Winning Members Supported by FIREPAC

IAFF District State IAFF Member Local Position
District 3 NH Mark Proulx 789 Nashua NH State Rep.
District 3 NH Michael O’Brien 789 Nashua NH State Rep.
District 3 NH Mark MacKenzie 856 Manchester NH House Rep.
District 3 NH Stephen Pearson 856 Manchester NH State Rep.
District 8 IL Mike Kelly 2 Chicago IL General Assembly
District 8 IL Christopher Scrol 413 Rockford County Board
District 8 OH Brian Baldridge 3111 Anderson OH House of Rep.
District 9 OR Dacia Grayber 1660 Tulatin Valley OR House of Rep.
District 10 CA Matthew Samson 1507 South San Francisco Water Board
District 12 FL Darron Ayscue 3101 Nassau County City Commission
District 14 AL Heath Jones 1833 Huntsville School Board
District 14 AR Wade Andrews 1373 Camden AR State Legislature
District 14 TN Harold Brad King 1784 Memphis Alderman
District 14 LA Chad Monceaux 1442 Crowley Mayor of Crowley, LA

 

Winning Initiatives Supported by FIREPAC

IAFF District State Local Position
District 2 MO 2665 Rock Township Property tax measure to fund additional ambulances
District 4 VA 2803 Chesterfield Facilities bond issue
District 4 MD 3666 Frederick Ballot initiative to remove binding arbitration
District 5 WI 127 La Crosse Public safety referendum for 12 new fire fighters
District 5 WI 487 City of Eau Claire Referendum to add 6 personnel to increase Rescue Squad staffing
District 7 WA 2032 East Jefferson Pursuing a merger vote in November, levy $0.12 tax increase
District 7 WA 3390 Gig Harbor City Fire Levy Lid Lift, and a Capital Facilities Bond
District 7 ID 4165 Kuna Fire Levy, and a Capital Facilities Bond
District 7 WA 4504 Oak Harbor City Fire Levy Lid Lift, and a Capital Facilities Bond
District 8 OH 379 Marion Millage increases to provide funding for new station, trucks
District 8 OH 1792 Grandview Heights Millage increase for a new fire station
District 8 OH 1832 Miami Valley Mill levy to stabilize funding, reopen a closed station
District 8 MI 5309 Lyon Township Levy increase to add three firefighters
District 9 CO 4477 Brighton Mill levy to staff two stations, equipment, and training
District 9 CO 4728 Central Lyon County Fire district ballot measure to fund additional personnel create two new stations
District 10 CA 1289 Modesto Sales tax increase
District 10 CA 1301 Kern County Measure K for public safety funding increase
District 10 CA 2342 Hemet Sales tax increase