Firefighter Raises Unrelated To Contributions, Officials Say

The firefighters union has given Chairman Gerald Connolly $37,500. (James M. Thresher - The Washington Post)

The firefighters also come from a deeply entrenched culture of political engagement. Their national union, the 280,000-member International Association of Fire Fighters, is a mainstay of the Democratic Party's labor base. FIREPAC, its political action committee, is one of the nation's largest. R. Michael Mohler, president of Local 2068 for the past 16 years, said that in a state where collective bargaining is not allowed, the union has no choice but to be heavily engaged politically.

"We're very active because we have to be," he said.

Thielen acknowledged that, in general, "firefighters have their act together more than police officers" when it comes to politics. Part of the reason is structural, he said. Whereas the International Association of Fire Fighters dominates firefighting, police are fragmented into several national and international organizations that compete for influence. (Fairfax police are represented by the International Union of Police Associations.)

"The IAFF does a good job educating their locals and keeping them cohesive," said Thielen, who said his local, which has contributed to the race for commonwealth's attorney, is preparing to become more active.

The firefighters have also forged strong ties with the board by developing concrete -- and sometimes unorthodox -- proposals for its consideration.

In the mid-1990s, for example, the county was paying out millions in disability pensions, in part because the benefit was so good: 67 percent of base pay, tax free. But union officials said it also created a culture that discouraged firefighters from overcoming injuries and continuing to work. The union supported a plan to make disability retirement less attractive by cutting pensions to 40 percent of base pay. In exchange, the county set aside positions for firefighters who couldn't respond to calls anymore but could still work as inspectors or academy instructors.

The county and the union also established a wellness and fitness program that has further driven down disability claims.

"When they bring in a request for improvements, they also bring a recommendation as to how to get there," Gross said. "They never just plunk it in our laps and say, 'Fix it.' "

Added Mohler: "I know there are some employee groups who are jealous of our success. But part of our success comes from our ability to work with the board."