Is Deb Fallon Back to Malden Politics?

Update: Asked if she had plans to run for a council seat this year, Fallon replied via email: "The purpose of my email is to encourage citizens to support our Malden Fire Fighters."

She did not immediately respond to a follow-up question about whether she was entirely ruling out a run, though we'll update when we receive a response. 

Original article: Former city councilor and mayoral candidate Deborah Fallon sent an email to supporters Friday morning, accusing Mayor Gary Christenson of misleading voters on firefighter staffing and encouraging residents to support the department this budget season.

Is it a sign that Fallon might put her hat in the ring for a city council run this year?

Fallon did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment, though staffing at the department was a recurring theme in her 2011 mayoral campaign. The letter is also addressed to "Malden Voter." 

Fallon did not send a copy of the letter to Malden Patch and at least one other publication in the city, though a copy was provided to the press by a reader who received the message:

Dear Malden Voter: 

In the budget he has presented for the next fiscal year (see City of Malden's website), Gary Christenson eliminated funding for eight (8) Malden Fire Fighters - ironically on the heels of two recent fires in the community.  In an article published on May 30, 2013, by Wicked Local/Malden Observer (which newspaper endorsed Gary Christenson for Mayor), Christenson was reported to have said the following:  "The department currently has 112 firefighters. Christenson said the city had 104 firefighters for years, adding the SAFER grant required the city to maintain a certain number of firefighters." 

This statement is misleading the public.  While I served as Councillor-At-Large for the City of Malden in 2010 and 2011, the Malden Fire Department ("MFD") operated between 109 and 119 Fire Fighters.  The SAFER grant that I supported allowed for the rehiring/hiring of Fire Fighters to ensure that the MFD was operating as close to the minimum manning requirements recommended on the local and national levels for public safety.  In years past, when Mayors/Administrations supported Fire Fighters, the MFD operated at between 140 to 161 Malden Fire Fighters.

This Sunday, June 2, 2013, please support our Malden Fire Fighters when they walk the Fire Fighters Memorial Parade beginning at 10:00 a.m. (parade begins at the Central Fire Station on Salem Street and ends at Forest Dale Cemetery).  Call Mayor Christenson at (781) 397-7000 and tell him you do NOT support his cuts to the MFD.  Call your Ward Councillor and ask her/him to advocate for our Malden Fire Fighters. 

Regards, 

Deborah Fallon

We will update the story if we receive comment from Fallon or Mayor Gary Christenson.