Re: 'Firefighters Union Changes Endorsements'

After reading a letter submitted to the VN by the Fallbrook Firefighters Association (FFA) VP Ryan Lewis, I feel compelled to correct several misrepresentations. I currently serve as a Director for District 4 and I was elected in 2020, after being recruited to run by the Firefighters union. When they first recruited me, I promised to always listen to their concerns but pointed out that I would not be their puppet. They reassured me that all they hoped for was an open line of communication.

In his letter Ryan states that prior to the union endorsing myself and Director Ross Pike there were issues related to communication and support. Ryan apparently misunderstands the role of a director on a public board. An elected board member has a responsibility to help the larger board make policy and to govern the activities and shape the future of the district. Directors have a fiduciary responsibility to the community and his/her constituents.

While I have always believed that the labor group has a role to play and that directors should listen to their concerns, the director’s primary responsibility is to the district and the public that we serve. Listening to and communicating with the union leadership does NOT mean that the board is going to acquiesce to every request or demand from the union leadership. Over the past 4 years I have met with union leadership to listen to their concerns on probably 15 occasions and am always available by phone or email. I have been thanked repeatedly for votes that I have made regarding the improvement of living and working conditions and yet ultimately there was only one ask that mattered.

When one reads Ryan’s letter, it is important to follow the timeline. The FFA endorsed me, Director Pike and newcomer Sheila Lancaster on August 3rd of this year, the 3 endorsements accompanied by glowing praise for our work and attributes. Approximately 2 weeks later the FFA leadership asked the board for a 10.7% annual raise, a 4.7% out-of-contract raise in addition to the generous 6% raise provided for in the ongoing 4-year contract. The rationale for this request was stated as a need to make up for the last 9 years in which the union feels it did not keep up with inflation. In 2022 NCFPD and the FFA agreed to a 4-year contract that was by far the most generous in recent district history, with raises exceeding the County CPI each year. I helped negotiate that contract, one that was applauded by the union membership.

Unfortunately, just 1 year later, in 2023, the union leadership was asking the board to approve an out-of-contract raise. And again, this past August the FFA leadership asked for the whopping 10.7% annual raise. Within a few days of the board not granting that “ask”, the FFA president wanted to meet with myself and Director Pike to find out why we did not grant the raise and when the board would meet again to reconsider this raise request. Because this conversation began with the inappropriate statement “not a dollar, not a dime for your campaigns until we look at your body of work as directors”, Director Pike and I quickly ended the meeting. That evening I withdrew my request for campaign support from the union and Director Pike expressed his concerns the following day.

After quickly interviewing our opponents, the FFA endorsed all 3. These 3 candidates had filed for candidacy and were available to interview and potentially endorse on August 3rd when the FFA endorsed me, Ross Pike and Sheila Lancaster. Why, if there were ongoing “issues of communication and support” with Director Pike and me, did the FFA not endorse these 3 on August 3rd? Why only after the raise request was not granted? The timeline speaks for itself.

Given the fiduciary responsibilities of a director listed above, granting a 10.7% annual raise would constitute financial malfeasance on the part of the board, and would be indefensible to our constituents and taxpayers. The extra 4.7% request alone would have required an additional $700,000 per year, and every year thereafter.

The NCFPD board over the past 4 years has accomplished things that were unimaginable just a few years ago. We have hired a new chief, recognized by his peers as the best chief in SD County, approved the remodeling of 3 of our 5 stations, approved construction of a new station 4 in Pala Mesa, added a 2nd ambulance to our busiest station, the downtown station 1, giving the district 4 ambulances for the first time in its history, aggressively pursued grants, bringing in $660,000 this year alone, provided balanced budgets, and granted the most generous contract to the members in recent district history. The remodeled stations will lower response times and give our local heroes a better place to live during their 48-hour shifts.

Both Director Pike and I are financing our own campaigns and are, unlike our opponents, free of the influence and unrealistic expectations of the FFA leadership. If reelected, we will continue to act independently and in the best interests of the community that we serve.

Jeff Egkan

Director NCFPD, District 4