Atlantic City's mayor picked up two major public safety endorsements this week.
The Atlantic City Professional Firefighters FMBA Local 8 and the New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association both have thrown their support behind Marty Small in the Democratic primary, where he is being challenged by a slate headed by former Unite HERE President Bob McDevitt.
The fire union leadership credit Small with turning around damage they claim was caused by the state's takeover and a move away from civil service.
“The more than 200 firefighters we represent in Atlantic City put their lives on the line every day to keep their community safe,” said New Jersey FMBA President Eddie Donnelly, whose union includes more than 6,000 members statewide. “They deserve a leader who will stand with them shoulder to shoulder during tough times, and make sure they have the manpower, training and resources they need to do their jobs as safely as possible.”
The backing comes nearly a month after the city's police union backed Small.
At that time, PBA Local 24 President Jules Schwenger told BreakingAC that the endorsement "may be controversial to some, but this decision was not made lightly."
She acknowledged at the time that the PBA does not always endorse a candidate in the election.
FMBA Local 8 President John Varallo went further in explaining the reason public safety has made its voice heard this time.
It also gives a little more insight, pointing out that McDevitt was a vocal supporter of the state takeover.
"We endured years of drastic pay cuts, increased work hours, and multiple attempts to lay off our members," Varallo wrote in a two-page endorsement letter. "One failed lay off attempt was five days before Christmas and attached was an additional 11% pay cut. We grappled with line-of-duty deaths, suicides, and life-debilitating injuries, all while benefits were cut from those members. This is what Bob McDevitt signed up to publicly support."
Donnelly and Varallo said it was Small who turned things around.
"We restored civil service, collective bargaining rights, replaced every piece of front-line apparatus, renovated four of six firehouses, lowered work hours, and are operating under a fair contract," Varallo wrote. "Key positions critical to life and safety have been restored, we have increased suppression staffing and returned an additional engine company to service. All this progress has occurred under the Mayor Small."
Donnelly echoed those sentiments.
“Under Mayor Small we have begun to unwind that damage,” he said.
He noted that civil service and collective bargaining rights have been restored, front-line apparatus replaced, and four of the six firehouses renovated.
“While we have more work to do, Mayor Small has worked with us to greatly improve working conditions and has committed to continuing fight,” Donnelly said. “This represents all that is right, when an administration works with its public safety union to provide the safest service for our members and the residents and visitors of Atlantic City.”
Small said he is "humbled and honored to receive the endorsement by both the Atlantic City and state fire unions."
"I'm a mayor that cares deeply about his employees, their work spaces, salaries, promotional opportunities, equipment and more," he told BreakingAC. "My administration delivers all the above for the fine men and women in blue of the Atlantic City Fire Department."
