A few years ago, I was appointed to the board of the East Jefferson Fire Rescue when it was undergoing a transition to having members from specific districts, as opposed to at-large. I served for about two years until the seat I held was put on the ballot and my successor was elected. 

During those two years we selected a new chief and dealt with budgetary, personnel, and policy questions impacting the department as we and the rest of the world entered into the COVID pandemic era, which of course had significant implications for the emergency medical elements of EJFR’s responsibilities. I learned a massive amount about the department, its history, and the challenges it faced and still faces.

I was very impressed with the work ethic and professionalism of the whole team, the effective partnership between management and the union that represents most of the personnel, and the careful attention to living within the budget available and to spend money wisely. 

It became clear, however, that at some point in the early 2020s the budget crunch, exacerbated by the extra efforts brought on by the pandemic, would require additional resources for the department to keep up with rising needs of an aging population, to ensure having a reasonable budget reserve, and to remain competitive in an era when fire-rescue operations throughout the state are struggling to find and keep essential personnel. 

I believe the levy lid lift recommended by the EJFR board is responsible and carefully targeted to ensure they will be able to meet the needs of the present and plan carefully for the future. I urge everyone who votes in next month’s election to say “yes” to this much-needed initiative that will keep EJFR as one of the best fire-rescue departments in our region.

George Randels
PORT TOWNSEND