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ELECTIONS
Unions endorse Wolfe for mayor
Republican mayoral candidate Kim Wolfe addresses supporters Wednesday during a news conference to announce that unions for the Huntington police and fire departments have unanimously endorsed him.
Purchase this photoHUNTINGTON -- Yard signs touting support for Republican mayoral candidate Kim Wolfe from Huntington police officers and firefighters have been spotted across the city for a couple weeks now.
But on Wednesday, unions representing the city's public safety employees made it official.
"We need a mayor who has been on the front lines with us and understands that staffing is a priority," John Angle, president of International Association of Firefighters Local 289, said during a news conference at the YWCA building on 5th Avenue.
IAFF Local 289 was joined by Fraternal Order of Police Gold Star Lodge 65 in announcing the unanimous endorsement of Wolfe, who is challenging two-term Democratic incumbent David Felinton in November's general election.
"We wanted a candidate who has no questions about his integrity and credibility and is forward looking," said Alan Rohrig, a member of the FOP's political action committee. "We want someone who always puts public safety first, not just every four years."
Rohrig said this is the first time in his 20 years with the police department that he can remember firefighters and officers supporting the same mayoral candidate. The IAFF endorsed Felinton when he ousted Mayor Jean Dean from office in 2000 and again in 2004. The FOP supported Dean in 2000 and former police chief Gordon Ramey in 2004.
"Typically, over my 20-year career, we've been on different ends of the spectrum," Rohrig said. "This is a man who can take different groups and bring them together."
Both unions have been embroiled with Felinton for several months over contract disputes centering on health insurance.
But labor officials stressed that has nothing to do with their endorsement of Wolfe. They also said Wolfe has not made them any promises in return for their support.
Wolfe, a retired Huntington police officer of 26 years who is nearing the end of his second and final term as Cabell County Sheriff, said he was humbled to get support from his peers.
"I've always said that the first priority of public service is protection of citizens," Wolfe said. "These people are the backbone of public safety, and I really appreciate their support."
Angle and Rohrig said they will begin a door-to-door campaign for Wolfe in the next few weeks and will continue erecting large campaign signs across the city.
The city's other employee union, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 598, has not endorsed a candidate for the general election. It did not endorse a mayoral candidate in the primary election either. However, AFSCME Council 77, which represents Local 598 and 25 other local unions in West Virginia, did endorse Felinton.
