The Bayonne firefighters union, FMBA Local 11, voted unanimously to endorse Mayor Jimmy Davis’ slate for re-election, citing “his commitment to putting Bayonne first.”Â
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“First responders like our Bayonne Firefighters put their lives on the line every day to keep our city safe and they deserve a partner in city hall who has their back, so our team has always done everything we can to support them,” Davis said in a statement.
“I’m so proud to have the endorsement of both our local firefighters and our police union, because they and the residents of Bayonne all see the progress we are making together and want to continue moving our city forward.”
The Bayonne Fire Department is consistently ranked as one of the best in the state and the current administration has worked to continually provide the department funding.
Recently, BFD became the only fire department in the state to equip all firefighters with thermal imaging cameras designed to aid in search and rescue operations.
“I first got to know Jimmy Davis when he was a Bayonne Police Officer and we served together, and I know he is someone with an incredible amount of character and dedication to serving our city,” said FMBA Local 11 President Pete Bonner.
“His commitment to putting Bayonne first is clear from the long-awaited development of MOTBY, to the clear improvements to our parks to the revitalization of Broadway, and I know Team Davis is the right choice to continue leading us forward.”
O’Donnell, a retired Bayonne firefighter and ex-public safety director, said he has no hard feelings towards his former colleagues for their decision to stick with the incumbents.
“I spent a significant part of my life in the firehouse working side by side with other people sworn to run towards danger. I have nothing but respect for every man and woman who puts on that gear to protect families across our city. As a lifelong resident of Bayonne, raising my three children here, I know first hand the incredible job that they do,” he said.
“The fact is, if I were still on the job I might also consider endorsing someone who was promising to hand out raises and promotions and dangling new ladder trucks, pumper rigs and the latest technology. But then I would realize that it’s Jimmy Davis and he will say or do anything to get himself elected and then go back on his word, just like he did with the 40 abatements he handed out to his rich developer friends.”
