Baltimore firefighters endorse Brandon Scott, cite record of rival Sheila Dixon

Baltimore’s two firefighter unions endorsed first-term Mayor Brandon Scott on Monday while criticizing one of his challengers, former Mayor Sheila Dixon.

During a news conference at a South Baltimore union hall, Baltimore Fire Fighters IAFF Local 734, which represents rank-and-file firefighters, and Local 964, which represents the city’s fire officers, said they support the Democratic incumbent’s bid for another four years in office, arguing Scott has maintained fire services despite challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Mayor Scott promised not to balance the city’s budget on the back of the firefighters, and he has followed through with that promise,” said Matthew Coster, president of Local 734.

Fire union leaders compared Scott’s tenure to that of Dixon, who was mayor from 2007 to 2010. During that time, the city implemented rotating closures of several fire companies amid budget shortfalls. The policy was criticized by other city officials, particularly after the death of a city man in a West Baltimore fire that broke out six blocks from a fire truck company that was shut down at the time. Dixon proposed permanently closing three fire companies in 2009, although she later reduced her proposal to one. Hundreds of city firefighters protested outside City Hall in December of that year.

“The only thing that prevented it from occurring was her resignation from office,” Fannon said of the fire company closures. Dixon resigned in January 2010.

“I ask you, firefighters, does that sound like a mayor who takes public safety seriously?” Fannon said to a group of about 35 firefighters who held signs with the message “Fire Fighters for Brandon Scott.”

“No,” they replied in unison.

Dixon’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The city’s budget for the Fire Department has increased by about $44 million annually since Scott took office. Scott did not follow through on a plan to close two fire companies included in the fiscal year 2020 budget by his immediate predecessor, Democrat Bernard C. “Jack” Young.

Still, there has been a push by some during Scott’s tenure to spend additional money to improve the city’s fire equipment. In December 2022, Baltimore City Council held a hearing to discuss the city’s aging fire vehicles. There, union officials called the state of the fleet “precarious.” The city’s fiscal year 2024 budget included $2.9 million for the replacement of fire trucks. An additional $5.4 million was added via amendments from the City Council. Scott’s administration has also allocated $25 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds for improvements to city fire facilities.

Scott touted his investments in facilities and trucks during the news conference.

“These investments, with more to come, are just an example of the choices that we have to make this election,” he said. “Do we have leadership that continues to prioritize city services and our frontline public safety workers like our firefighters and make the needed investments, even when times are tough? Or do we embrace the broken, failed leadership of the past?”

Scott and Dixon are among 13 Democrats vying to win the May 14 primary. Also among those running are former prosecutor Thiru Vignarajah and businessman Bob Wallace.