Tulsa firefighters are actively campaigning - on their own time and while not in uniform - against three incumbent city councilors - District 5 Councilor Bill Martinson, District 2 Councilor Rick Westcott and District 4 Councilor Eric Gomez. All are Republicans.
Tulsa Firefighters Local 176  spokesmen said the campaign doesn’t  violate the city charter as long as the firemen are not on duty or in uniform.
They can wear union T-shirts.
Martinson disagrees, saying that the charter states, “no chief, officer or sworn member of the Fire Department shall take an active part in any campaign for the election of officers of the city, except to vote and privately state a personal opinion.”
Firemen say the activity is covered under the First Amendment.
The union has endorsed Republican Chris Trail in District 5, Republican Barton Rhoades in District 2 and Democrat Maria Barnes in District 4.
Districts 2 and 5 races are on  the Sept. 8 primary election, and District 4 will be decided in the Nov. 10 municipal election.
During budget talks, Martinson suggested cutting police and fire departments’ combined budgets by $15.7 million, from $142.7 last year to $127 million.
Martinson, Westcott, Gomez and Councilor John Eagleton voted against the budget in its final form.
Eagleton did not draw an opponent in his District 7 race and was not endorsed by the firefighters union.
The union endorsed District 8 Republican Councilor Bill Christiansen, District 6 Democrat Councilor Dennis Troyer and District 3 independent Councilor David Patrick.
The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 93 has not announced endorsements.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 20th, 2009 and is filed under News Briefs.