Opinion: State firefighters: Learning from Bonnen’s political dumpster fire

When fires, vehicle accidents and medical emergencies require Texas firefighters, we respond no matter what. Political preferences don't matter. Neither do race, gender or other potentially divisive issues.

We wish more Texas legislators were similarly motivated. Outgoing Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen's spectacular political collapse reminded us just how bitterly partisan and politically treacherous the state capital can be.

In hindsight, Texas firefighters worked effectively enough with Bonnen. He gladly took our political contributions with a smile. We knew he was a political friend on some issues and a foe on others. But the secret recordings that brought down Bonnen revealed the ugly political aspirations that, if realized, could risk public safety and would declare war on public employees, including us.

Behind his photo-op smiles were commitments to attack and weaken cities and counties and to silence the political voices of firefighters, police officers and teachers.

One goal, Bonnen said on tape, was to "punish" cities and starve them of resources. If executed, this eventually would inevitably lead to cuts in basic services such as police and fire. Another Bonnen goal was to revive the statewide campaign against union dues deductions, which would weaken our ability to negotiate fair wages, benefits and working conditions.

Bonnen vowed to help make the next legislative session the worst "in the history of the legislature for cities and counties."

Some ask why firefighters are politically active. The answer is simple: as long as elected officials or their appointees affect public safety resources and whether we can get necessary equipment and staffing – and even medical treatment for occupational cancer – we will be working at the state capital and in city halls around the state.

In the last legislative session, for example, we fought to strengthen the state workers' compensation system that denies 90 percent of our insurance claims for cancer treatment, requiring costly appeals and court fights. Facing higher cancer rates because of our work, we were grateful for bipartisan support in passing a new law that helps level the playing field in insurance coverage disputes.

We must continue to make progress with cancer prevention and in other fire service priorities such as maintaining safe staffing levels and equipment, training, and workplace fairness.

To be effective we must work with elected officials across the political spectrum. Like other single-issue organizations, our political endorsements reflect our best assessments of incumbents' and candidates' histories or positions on public safety issues.

This narrowed focus can be complicated politically but we are proud to work with Republicans, Democrats and independents across Texas.

Texas firefighters are more committed than ever to finding ways to work with legislators. Our primary goal is to be strong enough to deliver excellent service, be good stewards of city resources, and give back to the communities we serve.

As Dennis Bonnen fades away politically, we hope lessons can be learned from the political dumpster fire he started and left to everyone else to put out.

When the 2021 legislative session opens, hundreds of us will be at the Capitol to meet legislators and staff for the first time and to renew old friendships. In the meantime, we will continue to work with them toward common-sense solutions for public safety and the fire service.

Riddle is president of the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters which represents 18,000 professional firefighters.

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