A forum Sept. 30 at Federal Way High School featured candidates in the fire commissioner’s race who answered questions from an audience.

Running for South King Fire and Rescue (SKFR) commissioner position 3 is incumbent J. Roger Hershey and John Rickert, a former fire commissioner himself.

Hershey has been a Federal Way resident since 1956, and began his 27-year run as a firefighter and fire investigator in 1972. He is in his 12th year as a commissioner.

Rickert moved to Federal Way in 1968 to be a firefighter in the district’s resident program. He was previously on the fire board, but lost his seat to commissioner Bill Gates when the board dropped one position after the merger between the Federal Way and Des Moines fire departments.

Here’s a recap of the questions and their answers.

How will SKFR prepare for possible Green River flooding in the valley?

Hershey: The department is prepared. The flooding isn’t expected to reach Federal Way, but the department can provide help to neighbors.

Rickert: Federal Way is a leader in emergency preparedness, and we have had a plan for 10 years. Federal Way will be able to help neighboring communities.

Is it more effective to build your own training facility?

Rickert: The training center in North Bend works to send classes there, but if we could get neighboring areas to participate in a training center here, that would be a good thing.

Hershey: We currently have one that isn’t adequate, and having one here would allow our firefighters to stay in the district while training. It would be better if we could get others in the area to use it and get some monetary benefit from it.

How can the department generate more revenue?

Hershey: The department is looking at different methods of funding. However, bonds can only pay for capital projects, not firefighters. “We need to look at any method we can find to support our department.”

Rickert: SKFR has always had the support of the community financially. Coming up with more funding is going to be tough in this economy.

What adjustments need to be made with smaller budgets?

Rickert: The department has been pretty prudent and has saved for the bad times. There is money to make it through 2011, but after that, there may be more drastic measures needed, including layoffs.

Hershey: We are facing a 15 percent reduction in assessed value in our community, which means we are going to have $3 million less to spend. We’ve reduced our budget fairly significantly, but not enough to make that up. We will be dipping into our reserves.

About the recent commissioner bond: Should the commission have asked the voters?

Hershey: It was a timing issue. With this economy, the department couldn’t purchase the land without a loan and make up the shortfall in the budget.

Rickert: The bond will be paid off with the taxes we already received. It could also be paid off with a larger construction bond.

How can the fire department train to address swine flu and AIDS?

Rickert: Our firefighters are well trained. We’ve got a person in charge of health and wellness. The department also benefits from having knowledge of how disease spreads and are vaccinated.

Hershey: The department is very proactive in taking care of firefighters and keeping them fit. The department was the first in King County to put together a package for swine flu.

What programs are there to encourage students to become firefighters, or to encourage diversity in the fire department?

Hershey: The department has been proactive in getting out in the community to find recruits of both genders sex and all ethnicities. The department works with Bates Technical College to find those who are at the top of their class and add diversity.

Rickert: Back in the 1960s, he was part of a program that made a point of hiring minorities in the department.

What is the number one pressing need for the fire department?

Both candidates agreed that earning national accreditation was the most important thing the department should work toward.

Would you favor a city fire department over a county fire department?

Hershey: Thinks the city feels really good about the program SKFR has brought forth and provides.

Rickert: We’re doing a real good job with the tax money collected. We’re more economical.

In regards to Green River flooding, is there a plan to assist displaced folks or address possible power outages?

Rickert: Most of that will be handled by other agencies, but the department will handle whatever comes and will help the neighbors.

Hershey: All of the stations, as well as Federal Way senior homes, have emergency generators. The facilities are here to help out those in the valley.

Are labor contracts a long-term concern?

Hershey: It’s not a major concern. The team in place does a good job in keeping it a fair contract that is in the middle of the stack when compared to neighboring districts.

Rickert: Contracts shouldn’t be a major concern, however they do affect budgets.

Closing statements

Rickert: He has been a commissioner on South King Fire and Rescue board for six years, “when we went from class three to class two (in insurance rating).” He has served on several committees during his time and helped create the committee process.

Hershey: He has served on a number of committees over the years and is currently serving on four. He is also a past president and vice president of the King County Fire Commissioners Association.

“I’ve enjoyed being a commissioner and I hope I can continue on.”