VOTERS BEWARE! read it all here and pay close attention!

 I cannot emphasize it enough as to how important it is to our district to vote correctly in this fire race. I think though you as a voter should understand the process of the Fire Commission and what it entails and how we the voter/homeowners are affected. Now if you think because you're a renter you AREN'T affected, think again, you are because your landlords are. So please pay close attention and read on.

Here over the next week, and probably for years to come as need be, you will learn what happens behind the scenes in managing our fire department and why it's not always a good idea to throw out "traditional" methods of doing things (as a recent UNION driven Sarasota Herald Tribune article suggested), or welcoming in the new "union" ways (as unfortunately our firefighters were snowballed and fearfully led into doing last July 2009)! You'll learn what's actually running these campaigns are personal agenda's to destroy years of good honest service. PERSONAL AGENDA'S based on personal ambition and greed driven by the Union's powermongering amongst a brotherhood that has been a true brotherhood for as long as I've known it!

And that's why I am sick of slick and sleazy politics weaseling their way into my district time after time with people who's character I wouldn't trust wearing what appears to the uniforms of hero's in our community. For over 16 years I have followed this Fire District and watched some pretty lousy antics AND seen some seriously marvelous times. Through all of it I have been proud to know the commissioners, and many of the firefighters! When firefighters not worthy of the uniform have risen to the top, they're generally ousted by one of their own undoings and failings. It's inevitable. The cream will always rise and the sour stuff is always discarded. That has happened alot of late with quite a few who've found themselves "fired" for noncompliance with workmans comp orders (such as may be the case with former firefighter Jerry Bennett who so disrespectfully greeted Commissioners Ranney and Anderson in the last Commission meeting, and in front of a visiting fire chief, no less!) or others who've just had one difficulty after resulting in their leave of absence from the department (such as Pete Donchenko, whom while checking public records is simply embarassing but we'll get to that later.)

It is with a heavy heart that I am sad to say now that I'm very disappointed in the firefighters who were snowballed by this "union" idea and worst yet, by those riding the fence hoping to win off of both sides! Unfortunately, it's come to light that there are those who lead that are playing both sides of the fence (playing Union AND playing as though they are completely on the side of the Commissioners in order to stay in everyone's good graces) and that's just a bad example. Besides, there should never be "sides" in a brotherhood! Especially those whose lives depend on each other in nearly, actually pretty much every incident they go out on. One firefighter related to me how extremely quiet the firehouse is to him as he's not part of the union and how very different that is from before everyone had to make a choice. I asked him how it was out on the calls, and he just shrugged, said, "we do our job."  But that can't be a good feeling knowing you have brothers who aren't happy with you not belonging to their new union deal! It's been related to me that union firefighters are not co-operative with non-union firefighters when asked to help with shift exchanges like they all used to with each other. But we'll discuss more of this union and how it came about in the next day or two.

It's even sadder when one of the commissioners decides his bread is better buttered with the Union's interests too because he knows he's on borrowed time with his own issues (which will be disclosed very soon). Mark Ruben is a young commissioner with problems he doesn't have control of and poor common sense or simply bad judgment, but he's decided his job is better off on the side of the union so he's decided to run on the same "ticket" as Durant and Evans both of whom are Union-backed in order to take control of the Southern Manatee Fire Commission Board. The current candidates are: Ranney vs Evans, Anderson vs Durant and Ruben vs Solomon.  Now you may ask why is this so important and what's wrong with new blood because Commissioner Ranney has been there 18 years and Anderson close to 12. Let me explain why it's dangerous to us.

The Commission is comprised of 5 members: a Chairman and 4 members. Every four years they come up for reelection, with it staggered so not all of them are out at once, however, every so often, someone retires off the board in between those four years and we get into a three election like this year. Elections take place every two years. If these three are elected, then they will hold the majority vote on any issue the board faces. Because they are Union-favorable this means the Union will have its way across the board and the Union will control the board and all the firefighters. It's really an illusion for the firefighters to think they have any control in the Union because as was recently exhibited, when the Union decides to increase Union dues, they do it and they cannot object. It just happens and they have to pay. Regardless of the fact that it was only .48 per paycheck which comes out to .96/month, it's still an increase in income expense they had no control over the decision. Some objected but were told to live with it.  I would not want to subject our firefighters to this.



Brad Ranney, 18 years

 

Marlon "Andy" Anderson, 12 years

Because Mark Ruben is not looking out for the best interests of the people he represents NOR the firefighters, he needs to be replaced by Steve Solomon. Because Brad Ranney for over 18 years, and Marlon "Andy" Anderson for 12 years, have held a tight line in budget spending, provided the best for our firefighters and shown PROVEN, DEDICATED SERVICE they should be re-elected. I'll provide more on what a commissioner does tonight.

Vote Anderson for Seat 1, Solomon for Seat 3 and Ranney for Seat 5 to protect your homeowners taxes and our fire district from a path of corruption!

So,  that's why this site has occured. Readers take heed, please read thoroughly and vote responsibly next Tuesday! PLEASE don't blindly go for change, don't blindly figure your fire department doesn't matter, and don't blindly figure your firefighters know what's best because a union man told them so! Our country's a mess right now because of thinking like that... blindly following down the wrong path of empty promises.


Read here and know the truth now. Know that in waiting for the truth to be revealed, it's too late to wait any longer. It would be a travesty to let the us blindly fail ourselves.