Fire board candidate responds
To the editor:
My name is Al (Big Al) Agathen, and I’m running for Fort Myers Beach Fire Commissioner Seat 3. My opponent is Carol Morris. Before you read on please visit the Department web sight at www.fmbfire.org, and you will find out that all the facts herein are a matter of record.
Let me start out by responding to the letter that questions whether I would or would not make a good fire commissioner. First, my past association with the fire service as a fire fighter/EMT should not be an issue as there are many fire districts around the country, in Florida and here in Lee County that not only have retired fire personal but full-time fire fighters on their boards, and they are running like a well-oiled machine. The fact that I have a background in the fire service will be an asset to the job, as I have inside knowledge of how the system works. The fact that I served on a committee that was charged with the purchase of fire equipment and supplies will work to my advantage as I worked on future budgets. It should also be noted here that I am not affiliated with any professional fire fighting unions.
My duties as a CERT member and CERT team leader should not be held against me as some have implied. On the contrary, this is also a plus in part because as a leader of this award-winning group, part of my duties have included attending numerous conferences, seminars and classes to prepare for the day that a disaster may hit this area. If that day comes (and I hope not) I will be in a position to be of help to our town and fire department.
As part of my training I took the NIMS course. This is the National Incident Management System and is a requirement as per a Presidential Order for all first responders, fire board members among others. Ms. Morris has been told on more than one occasion that she needs to complete this course and, after 4 years, has yet to do so.
Finally, on the mud slinging, it was said that I’m too close to the fire district personnel. Well, what do you think when as part of my duties as a CERT team leader, I was charged with training with the officers, paramedics and fire fighting personnel and, on that note, I’m very proud of the level of education that this team received by working close with the FMB personnel. No one can take that away.
As a CERT team leader I received numerous awards including the Bean Stalk award for developing the fastest growing, most involved and well-trained CERT team in Lee County. This was due to the members who are team orientated and I hope to bring this team spirit to the board because I believe, in order to get things done for the tax payers, we need a cohesive board, fair contracts and to put a stop to all the bitterness that my opponent brought to each and every meeting (read all of the minutes).
Now I must bring up two final points. Again, I say read the minutes of the board meetings and show me any meeting where Ms. Morris introduced any bill to save the taxpayers a single dollar, I didn’t find any. Can you?
Point No. 2 which I feel is a very big point. Commissioner Morris missed the Nov. 13, 2007 meeting. That meeting was to ratify the new $24 million dollar union contract/ to approve the purchase of two new ambulances at $190,000 each/ and the Wachovia bank loan for $1.7 million as to whether to approve it with or without a repayment clause. This was the biggest and most important meeting this area has seen in years.
Please be informed when you vote and most of all get out and vote on Nov. 2. Remember, a vote for Big Al is a vote for a person that will work for the taxpayers and a person that will keep you informed each and every step of the way. Thanks.
Al (Big Al) Agathen
Candidate for FMB Fire Commission Seat 3