Anchorage

Anchorage firefighters endorse Berkowitz

Anchorage's firefighters union is backing Ethan Berkowitz for mayor, an endorsement Berkowitz claimed as a key victory in a race focused on public safety.

The International Association of Firefighters Local 1264 made the announcement in a Wednesday press conference outside the union hall in South Anchorage. Berkowitz joined union president Mike Stumbaugh on top of the union's big barbecue, flanked by about 15 other firefighters holding Berkowitz campaign signs.

"He's always been a friend of ours," Stumbaugh said. "One thing we do is stick to our friends."

Stumbaugh said the endorsement reflects Berkowitz's long history of supporting the union's causes. As a Democratic state legislator, Berkowitz opposed legislation that in 2005 eliminated a defined benefit retirement system for public employees -- a battle unions lost and are still pushing against.

Stumbaugh called the other mayoral candidates "great people." He said he personally likes Amy Demboski, who is married to an Anchorage Fire Department captain.

Demboski's campaign on Wednesday highlighted an endorsement from Alaska Family Action, a conservative Christian nonprofit organization, which came in partly for her opposition to same-sex marriage. Other conservative groups have endorsed Demboski for her same-sex marriage opposition as well as her stances against abortion and big government spending.

Demboski has also put public safety at the forefront of her campaign. But Stumbaugh said, despite Demboski's connection to the fire department, Berkowitz had already proven himself before his interview with the union.

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"Not to say it was predetermined, but he came in with a little more of a lead," Stumbaugh said.

The fire union represents about 360 Anchorage Fire Department employees.

During the press conference, Berkowitz said his goals as mayor include setting up a first aid station near Brother Francis Shelter to reduce the number of daily trips firefighters and paramedics make to the shelter. He said he supported the current system, in which union contracts determine the number of firefighters on a rig, and he would support increasing the number of engines and ambulances through budget appropriations.

Much of the public safety discussion during the mayoral campaign, however, has focused on crime, violence and police staffing. Anchorage's police union has decided not to endorse a candidate for mayor before the April 7 election.

Gerard Asselin, president of the Anchorage Police Department Employees Association, said he's worried endorsing a candidate could stifle dialogue between the 11 mayoral candidates and the community about issues with crime in Anchorage.

"I think it's best for the community to continue to vet all these candidates in the most open and transparent way … without political bent," Asselin said. He said the police union tends to be more conservative about endorsing candidates in mayoral races.

Asselin said an endorsement could still come if no candidate gets 45 percent of the vote and the top two face each other in a runoff election.

Devin Kelly

Devin Kelly was an ADN staff reporter.

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