Cedar Valley, IA Firefighters Rally for Bush

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier ^ | October 1, 2004 | Adam Morris

[conservativo]

WATERLOO --- About two dozen Cedar Valley firefighters this morning announced their pick for president --- George W. Bush.

The firefighters said they're united behind President Bush despite the international firefighters union's endorsement of Democratic nominee John Kerry. The firefighters made their announcement at a rally outside Veterans Memorial Hall.

"Nationally and locally, it's been put out that firefighters are for Kerry --- we're for Bush," said Steve Jordan, a Waterloo firefighter and former Republican state legislative candidate, who organized the rally. He is the brother of Republican Black Hawk County supervisor candidate Scott Jordan.

Kurt Graven, a Waterloo firefighter who lives in Greene, agrees.

"It's not just Waterloo firefighters," Graven said.

The International Association of Fire Fighters endorsed Kerry in September 2003. The union of professional firefighters and paramedics has said it supports Kerry's stances on things like funding for first responders, safety equipment and labor rights. The union has about 260,000 members, including about 1,200 members in Iowa.

The firefighters this morning wore T-shirts that declared in red letters their loyalty: "Firefighters for Bush."

"We see Bush really stepped up to the plate with homeland security issues, which plays directly into our job," Steve Jordan said.

Jeff Danielson, a Cedar Falls firefighter and Democrat state legislative candidate who supports Kerry and was a local organizer for the senator's successful Iowa caucus campaign, said he understands not all firefighters share the same political beliefs.

"They have a right to support whatever candidate they want," Danielson said. "We believe in the policies Kerry supports and think the resources firefighters need to do their job well will be better served by Sen. Kerry's positions."