I was recently criticized in a letter to the editor to The Herald for accepting contributions to my campaign from firefighters. I’m very proud that the fire service professionals in our district, as well as others nearby, support my candidacy. Unlike the writer who assumes that support from the working men and women of our fire district is a bad thing, I believe it’s absolutely crucial.
The firefighters that serve our community know the job and our district’s needs better than anyone else, and their insight is invaluable. Each and every day these people potentially risk their lives serving us. The fact that they have an opinion about board leadership should surprise no one; it would be surprising if they didn’t. The support I have from these men and women is a strong indicator that I bring a level of strength, knowledge and care to the job, and that they believe I exercise true independent judgment.
On the topic of contract negotiations, bear in mind that all fire service contracts are covered by provisions regulated by state law. No individual commissioner or fire district can dictate them. These provisions include wages, hours and working conditions, all of which are determined primarily by comparability with like-sized fire departments across the state. In Fire District 5 these negotiations are conducted solely by our fire chief. Once a mutually agreeable contract is negotiated, it is presented to the board for approval.
Deborah Chase
Sultan
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