GUEST OPINION: Woodinville Firefighters Local Clarifies Position on Kirkland Annexation

The leadership of Local 2950, Woodinville Firefighters, has never suggested that the Woodinville fire district ever had the authority to stop the Kirkland annexation after it was approved by the Kirkland city council. As far as I can tell, this is the “lie” that Fire Commissioner Miller has alleged (“).

We have, however, suggested that the Woodinville Board of Fire Commissioners has failed to fulfill its obligation to provide fire and emergency medical services to parts of the fire district that remain within Woodinville’s jurisdiction, such as Hollywood Hill. If Commissioner Miller doesn’t understand the difference, that is unfortunate.

During negotiations in the latter part of 2010, the firefighter’s local was in favor of staffing an aid car to at least provide emergency medical services to the areas impacted by the Kirkland annexation. And yes, if necessary, locate this aid car temporarily at Station 34 until a more favorable location was provided. Unfortunately, this model was not agreeable to the representatives of the fire district. Instead of keeping “boots on the street,” the fire district began building an administrative empire that included five brand new executive staff positions. This is when the Firefighter’s Local cried “foul.”

It is disappointing to see Mr. Miller grousing about events that occurred almost six months ago when he should be spending his time and energy tending to the very real challenges facing the fire district today. Alternatively, commissioners Osgood, Coughlin, and Vucci have chosen to move on from the acrimony of the past and have confronted the current issues with a much greater degree of openness and collaboration. These efforts are starting to bring about positive results.

Unfortunately, Mr. Miller has maintained a policy of zero direct communication with the firefighter’s leadership as the district has been wrestling with the controversies over the last couple of years. This is not helpful and his comments reflect the fact that he has only been interested in hearing one side of the debate.

These complaints by Mr. Miller are not only untimely, they are frankly without merit and they have been levied without any references or supporting documentation. Where the leadership of this Local has made factual statements, we stand behind them. Where we have speculated and/or shared our opinions, we have noted these and have made the appropriate distinctions.

Incidentally, commissioner Clint Olson has taken a similar approach as Mr. Miller when confronting the complex problems that face the fire district; he is not speaking openly with the firefighter’s leadership and he has failed to move on from the ill-advised policies of the former fire chief and the acrimony of the past. It is imperative that he is not re-elected as he attempts to secure another six-year term. Please support and vote for Mark Emery in the upcoming election.

Greg Ahearn
President, Local 2950
Woodinville Firefighters