by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
Ask local police and fire department union leaders what they want from their next president and you’ll hear similar list: protection for their retirement benefits, strong leadership and enough funding to keep them safe and effective on the front lines of homeland security. Ask them who they intend to support this fall and their answers begin to diverge.
Nelson Cuba, president of the local Fraternal Order of Police, and Roger Lewis, Cuba’s counterpart at the Jacksonville Association of Firefighters, say they will cast their votes with their national leadership. That would put 20,000 firefighters statewide behind Democratic candidate John Kerry, facing off against 30,000 state police likely to support President George W. Bush.
Neither local chapter has officially endorsed a candidate. However, the FOP supported Bush in 2000 and Cuba said he didn’t see any reason for a change in 2004. The International Association of Fire Fighters, the JAF’s parent, was the first major union to endorse Kerry.
“Typically, the state and local levels usually go with the endorsement of the International Association, but not always,” said Lewis. “State support doesn’t happen automatically, I’d say it happens most of the time but not all of the time.”
The international chapter found that out the hard way in 2000. The JAF joined the state chapter in bucking the IAFF’s endorsement of Al Gore. Instead, the Florida Professional Firefighters threw their support behind Bush, whose brother, Jeb, had recently taken office in the state capitol.
“It was a simple one in 2000,” said Lewis. “His brother was our governor and we were worried about local issues in the State Legislature at the time. We looked at it like his brother was here, and that provided access to the president’s office if we needed it. It was a better political situation for us.”
Despite Lewis’ use of the past tense, George Bush’s brother still resides in Tallahassee. However, after a few hundred Florida votes landed Bush in the White House in 2000, Lewis said a repeat performance by the FPF this year would probably be viewed as “almost a rebellion.”
“Certainly last time, it was talked about at the international level and caused a rift between the leaderships,” said Lewis. “I don’t know if it’s possible this year. To make it simple, it’s probably in our best interest to roll with the international endorsement at the presidential level.”
Lewis said the state chapter would probably make its decision by early summer. Compared to their decision — upset their union’s international leadership or their state’s purse–string–wielding chief executive — the FOP’s choice will be relatively simple, said Cuba.
The FOP was one of the few law enforcement groups to support Bush in 2000, Cuba said, because they are unfettered by partnerships with other labor organizations.
“As far as I know, we were the only law enforcement union to support Bush,” he said. “What happens is a lot of these groups are not just law enforcement groups; they have affiliations with labor organizations as well. And a lot of labor groups view Republicans as anti–labor.”
Cuba and Lewis agreed that endorsements from law enforcement and firefighters’ unions carried weight beyond the votes of their members.
“This society is based on laws,” said Cuba. “It’s tough to run for office without public safety on your side. It’s a strong endorsement of a candidate as a law–abiding citizen.”
Lewis said firefighters consistently return approval ratings above 95 percent in public polls. Mayor John Peyton visited every Jacksonville fire station during his campaign and promised to improve departmental morale. The JAF, in another display of local autonomy, supported Peyton, helping the Republican candidate defeat Democratic challenger Nat Glover.
“It’s a heavy statement to get an endorsement from the firefighters,” said Lewis. “Go to City Hall and ask Mayor Peyton how it feels to have the firefighters on board.”