What The Voters Need To Know :
Lehigh Acres Fire Board Candidates

Editorial by Robert Anderson
Publisher, The Lehigh Acres Gazette

In the Fire Board races, you may want to learn who is supporting whom and why?

Does Lehigh Acres need another union controlled board? Or do we as a community need to stand up and say “enough is enough” and fight to get back a fire department that we as a community can be proud of.

Seat 1

Robert G Hewitt – No support. See his report click here

Cathy Kruse – 95 percent supported by the Firefighters and Fire Political Action Committees. See her report click here

Seat 2

Larry Becker – Incumbent – Becker has stated for the record Lehigh Fire will not be in the ambulance business if he is is re-elected. Becker has said he wants Lee county EMS to take over the job for LAFD.  See his report click here

Ronald L Krome – is 100 percent supported by the Firefighters and Fire Political Action Committees. See his report click here

Willam Liedtke – is supported by himself and a former Lehigh Acres Fire Chief. See his report click here

Rob Robbins – has had no contributions but has had almost $500 in expenses. Why? See his report click here

Seat 4

David Adams – Incumbent – has had no contributions except from himself. See his report click here

Brandon C Morris – Cape Coral Firefighter lives in Lehigh Acres – 100 percent supported by the Firefighters and Fire Political Action Committees including the Fire Fighter Union in Cape Coral.  See his report click here

Seat 5

Jacqueline Y Danis – 100 percent supported by the Firefighters and Fire Political Action Committees. See her report click here

Ralph B Hemingway Jr. – has had no contributions or expenses only one in-kind for six dollars – See his report click here

In conclusion,

Is it time to send a perfectly clear message to the candidates who taken special money, this is our community, our fire department and we mandate that the new board whoever it is be truthful and forth right to the community.

Re-post from October 09, 2012

1. 

   Ed McHale Jr. says:

   October 8, 2012 at 12:48 pm

   (1)-I find it interesting regarding the use of the equipment
   of our current fire department EMPLOYEES, that use the
   fire truck to run personal runs. Like going to the
   WinDixie, to purchase food, Etc. in the Fire trucks. It is
   a waste of TAXPAYER monies to have employees drive the
   trucks, Etc. while on the clock. I do not know of another
   employer that encourages this. There is plenty of time for
   these EMPLOYEES to purchase food, Etc. before they come to
   work.

   (2)- I have yet been given a true answer as to why when
   calling 911, for an ambulance, the fire truck shows up
   first. It happened to me. SO I do know what I am talking
   about. There was no need to have the folks with boots and
   suits arriving at 3:00 AM at my home.

   Yes, there has been cases where a person FAINTED in church, and the boots and suits showed up first. Wow, Really impressed a lot of folks. Sending more than required, does not show good management skills.

   It appears to this citizen, that the entire fire commissioners are in on this. I certainly hope that this will be corrected now…..?? Sounds to me, that they are protecting the union membership.?? Why…??

   When I have attended the monthly PUBLIC meetings, I get the impression that it is a closed meeting, just for union members. Sorrry, that is how they come across in their looks and body motions. Somehowe, I think the union members have forgotten who pays the taxes, and who are on FIXED incomes. Sad to think that the older one gets thatthe younger generation think ( and acts ) like they own the older folks.

   NO, this is not normal for the boots and suits to come first. How do I know………….well, we travel and visit relatives in different parts of the USA. That is how we know……sorrry.

   Hope the next elected citizens have the ability to act on all taxed payers.

   reply
2. 

   jacqueline Danis says:

   October 8, 2012 at 10:41 pm

   I feel that the fire board and the fire fighters are of one entity. They should be working together as a team.I am proud that the fire fighters have endorsed me.If not for their generous funding I would not have been able to have signs or flyers made.I strongly resent the implication that I am going to be a union puppet once elected. Shame on the Gazette for being so jaded.

   reply
   • 

     Editor says:

     October 9, 2012 at 8:17 am

     The citizens need to know where the candidates get their money to run it’s only fair. Questions need to be asked why some candidate’s campaign funds so heavily weighted to one side. In 2006 this same campaign issues came to be heavily weighted candidates on only one side of the picture and look at the fire department now.

     Now in 2012 we have three heavily union supported candidates not because they are not good people, they are good people. They say they cannot run a campaign without money. That could be a true statement but look at Commissioner Carter spent less than $100 dollars of her own money and won. Look at Diane Champion spent less than $200 dollars and won over an incumbent.

     Good or bad the people Lehigh will make up their minds at the polls on Nov 6, 2012.

     reply
3. 

   Julie Sparks says:

   October 10, 2012 at 7:13 pm

   Dear Editor,

   I believe people voted for Linda Carter because they thought they were voting for Wonder Woman!

   reply