Are always on the same side of this fight.  Connolly is the Davis candidate.  The firefighters also endorsed Jeannemarie Devolites-Davis over Chap.  John Niemiec did so while sitting as a member of the Democratic Committee.

In other words, my message to John Devolites-Niemiec...

Get lost.

that a group that would endorse Tom Davis' wife would also endorse Gerry Connolly?  Hmmmmm.

We will never have transparency in Fairfax County as long as the same people remain in control.  It is  run by an incredibly stagnant and stale group of people camped out in the back pocket of real estate developers and other regressive, unimaginative people.

The Bossism may not be seen by the average person, but it is there.  Connolly is not fit to be a doormat.  Think about it.  How many donors does he have to call?  How many donors does a grassroots candidate call?  How many people really support Connolly enthusiastically as opposed to accepting the reality of his money machine rolling into his House of Representatives parking spot simply because he wants the job?

this?

As investments go, Gerald E. Connolly has yielded pretty good returns for Fairfax County firefighters and paramedics.

Their union, Local 2068 of the International Association of Firefighters, has put up nearly $100,000 in campaign contributions to the Board of Supervisors chairman over the last four years. During that period, they've received salary increases significantly higher than those of other county employees. County and union officials say there was no quid pro quo, and that the raises were strictly a matter of keeping public safety pay competitive with surrounding communities.

And the best comment so far:

"there was no quid pro quo except for the quid pro quo"

I wonder if that leads to any awkward tension when Bruce Roemmelt (who endorsed Byrne) meets with his firefighter buddies.

Not any different than a company donating to one campaign while it's employees vote for the opposing candidate.

When I was in the air force we frequently had animated debates about ongoing elections while working together on our gear and remained friends throughout the process.

I suspect it's the same for firefighters...  argue hard, play hard, work hard... forgive and forget really, really fast.

I've got no problem with my boys and girls.  i'm retired (but still active in the union) but leave the political decisions to the active members.  we talk all the time.  and we're fine.

as you might imagine i'm a much more partisan fellow than the members of the local.  locally and nationally the IAFF endorses on the basis of "fire fighter interests."  the fire fighter's issues are retirement, staffing, health care, and safety.  my interests surround much more broad areas including labor, but also the rest of the essential core Democratic principles.

remember when the PW local endorsed Sean C (then our CXO) for Lt Gov?  that was also about positioning.

my endorsement of Leslie is stronger than ever.  she's a true friend of labor, and she and Larry were huge for my campaign last year. (i must have missed the Gerry check)

bottom line is the fire fighters win regardless.  Leslie will take care of them.

Leslie rocks and that's all i got to say about that...

b

 

You're the one who rocks, just wish you were in the HoD and not "Sideshow Bob." :)

I would break my back to get Leslie Byrne elected.  I hope she wins -- she is by far the best candidate.