Jack Stanford, here is a clear and precise example of who you are trusting. Union leaders and career politicians taking advantage of a temporary downturn to line their pockets. Just follow the money.

Why is it that, as I have said all along, not one boots-on-the-ground firefighter has made a personal, voluntary contribution to the effort to put Prop 1 on the ballot?

As of reporting records to date of writing this letter, all funds ($37, 079.46) promoting Prop 1 have come from either the mandated union dues and district administrators. Not one of which has stepped forward with a proposed wage cut, temporary or otherwise, to help weather these ‘difficult times.’

Instead, here come the plea to the overtaxed citizens to raise more money for the fire district so everything can be kept status quo.

Another visit to the PDC confirms the effort is pushed by the Local 2024 Firefighters union ($30,000) union and management ($7,079.46). Yes, I did see that Al Church (Fire Chief and Administrator), Edward Plumlee (Assistant Chief – Operations) Gordon Olsen (Deputy Chief – Fire Marshal) and Mike Knorr (Deputy Chief – Logistics) for some reason felt it prudent to shrug their hard-earned titles and have listed themselves as fire fighters.

But are they union members currently qualified to respond to a fire or, as identified on the SKFR website, members of the upper management team?

The latest, and very generous, I might add, donations come from two battalion chiefs.

Odd dollar amounts, too, $1,442.88 and $1,442.58. If there is a special significance, I am missing it.

Oh well, as I said before, this shows at least one thing. The union and management are in agreement on at least one thing.

Increase the revenue taken from your pocket!

Check out the PDC for proof

http://www.pdc.wa.gov/MvcQuerySystem/CommitteeData/contributions?param=WUVTIFAxIDA2Mw====&year=2010&type=single

As if that were not reason enough to vote no, go to www.votenoprop1.com for a detailed look at why the fire district is not being completely honest and open about the effects of Prop 1. Detailed there is the SKFR Strategic Communications Plan for how to get the ballot measure passed “without providing too many details about a ballot measure that is confusing and could result in a ‘NO’ vote.”

The district is withholding information from the public and hoping that the suppression of that information will allow them to get the measure passed without addressing the real issue of a changing revenue source and severe increase in burden upon the taxpayer.

Vote NO on Prop 1

Jerry Galland

Federal Way