Career Firefighters Remain Neutral On Morristown Mayoral Race

MORRISTOWN, NJ — After Morristown firefighting leadership endorsed Mayor Tim Dougherty for re-election, the union wanted to make something clear: they remain neutral. The Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association released a statement distancing itself from the fire officers' endorsement but not taking a stance in the election.

Morristown FBMA Fire Officers Local 43 — comprised of the fire marshal and four captains — endorsed Dougherty, who's running for a fourth term in Tuesday's primary. But FMBA Firefighters Local 43 — representing Morristown's 25 career firefighters — does not have a public stance.

"Our primary role as Firefighters/EMTs is the safety of our residents and members," Peter Dwyer, president of FMBA Local 43, wrote in a statement. "As a union, we will continue to work towards providing adequate staffing, making sure that the front line apparatus is safe, reliable and able to respond to all emergencies, and lastly to ensure that appropriate training and the tools necessary to properly perform our duties for a safer community are always available."

Related article: Firefighting Org. Endorses Tim Dougherty For Morristown Mayor

Morristown PBA Local 43 thanked them for "having the integrity and courage to not mislead the public."

The police benevolent association endorsed Democratic primary challenger Esperanza Porras-Field. The union voted 47-7 in favor of backing Porras-Field, with two abstentions. Read more: Morristown PBA Endorses Esperanza Porras-Field For Mayor

"Community policing starts with a healthy relationship between the town administration and our union members," said PBA President Dennis Bergman. "Esperanza's views on community policing align with ours as well as other issues facing our agency members. We work for the community and look forward to strengthening relationships between the town leaders as well as community leaders."

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