Fire Union PAC Spends $10,000 For Its Cause

For $10,000, a local fire union has bought street signs, radio commercials and about 30,000 restaurant place mats.

At least five local restaurants have mats on their tables that read "Save Your Service."

Spring Hill firefighters want to be independent from the county. The only way to do that is to convince residents to vote "yes" to a referendum that calls for it.

"Our candidate's name is Yes," joked Local 2794 President Troy Hagar. "We want Yes to win. We think Yes is the best guy."

Under state law, the union is permitted to form a committee of continuous existence (CCE), which is similar to a political action committee (PAC).

Under the legal guidelines, a PAC can spawn from a CCE, as long as it is centered on one local cause per election. In this case, the cause is the referendum for independence.

The local PAC is called Firefighters for an Independent District.

Currently, Spring Hill Fire Rescue falls under the jurisdiction of the county. After several years of power struggles, the county commissioners agreed in April 2007 to put the issue on the ballot. Let the voters decide, they said.

On Nov. 4, they will.

If residents vote yes, the fire district will become independent from the county and the day-to-day operations will be controlled by the board of fire commissioners. If they vote no, the fire board will be dissolved and the county will have full control of the district.

"It's been a long, hard road since April (2007)," said Hagar. "We're almost there."

The main difference between a CCE and other types of political organizations is that 25 percent of the CCE's income must come from dues or assessments paid by its membership. In other words, the firefighters themselves pay dues, which must make up at least one-fourth of the committee's income. The rest can be collected through fundraisers and public contributions, Hagar said.

The local PAC can be funded through the CCE.

Beginning in October, off-duty firefighters will be on street corners holding signs that will read "Vote Yes" or "Save Your Service - Support Spring Hill Firefighters."

Several street signs already can be seen along some of the major streets through Spring Hill - including County Line Road and Mariner Boulevard.

The issue draws heat from both sides. Fire board meetings have included a mixture of residents both for and against independence.

Hagar said he already has seen some signs missing from areas along Anderson Snow Road and Deltona Boulevard. Some of them, he thinks, have been stolen.

"We're losing some of them," Hager said. "Some people are taking our signs."