The Watertown Firefighters have announced their endorsements for Town Council in the upcoming Town Election, and not surprisingly none of the councilors who voted down the arbitration agreement in December made the list.
Rob Mannix, president of Local 1347 Watertown Fire Union, announced the endorsements this week on his Facebook page. Earlier this year, the Fire Union sent out questionnaires to Council Candidates (click here to see details).
The firefighters endorsed the following candidates in the Nov. 3 election:
- Town Council President – Clyde Younger
- District A – Bob Erickson
- District B – Lisa Feltner
- District C – Rossella Mercuri
- Councilors at large – Tony Palomba, Patryce Georgopolous, and Michael Dattoli
The only sitting councilor to get an endorsement was Palomba, who cast the lone vote to support the Arbitration Award. The other councilors voted against the award because they said it was not fair to other town employees because firefighters would have gotten raises in two years during the economic downturn in which other unions took no raise.
The Fire Contract was settled in September when the Town Council and Fire Union both accepted a deal negotiated by the two sides.
No endorsement was made in District D where Ken Woodland is running unopposed after former firefighter Bob McCarthy withdrew from the race.
Once again, candidates should decline endorsements from unions. There is a real conflict of interest here. I won’t vote for any candidate who accepts a union endorsement.
That is childish Fred. You act like an endorsement equates to voting in lockstep. This is not Washington D.C., its Watertown. Do you really think ‘unions’ in Watertown endorsing a candidate is a ‘conflict of interest’?
How about looking at it like an educated adult and going by the issues. Maybe look at why they are endorsing certain candidates. If I had gone 6 years without a raise/contract and had to sue the town while watching the mgr get multiple raises, Id be against the incumbents too.
The real conflict of interest is outgoing councilor Corbett. A town councilor and developer of multi unit properties here in town who voted on zoning laws to allow more multi unit properties here in town.
But wait, he’s not running for reelection. Why not? Im sure its not because he has 10 years on the Council and is now vested in the towns health insurance. Maybe its to go build more multi unit properties now that the zoning laws are changed.
Tony Palomba is the only incumbent with the fortitude to vote against the mgr and his cronies. Look at his voting record.
I agree with the firemen. Tony stays and all others out.