I’ve written previously about Jim Wyskiewicz, the New Britain Democratic candidate for Mayor, and the local firefighters:

Getting the firefighters to vote for Wyskiewicz was going to be pretty easy considering Stewart’s dismal treatment of them–but if the firefighters stand with and work for Wyskiewicz, Stewart may live to regret it.

Well, now the firefighters have endorsed Jim’s candidacy. I received a press release announcing the endorsement:

NEW BRITAIN – Incumbent mayor Timmy Stewart served as a Fire Inspector within the exceptionally tight-knit New Britain Fire Department for 18 years.

This week, the firefighters union voted overwhelmingly to endorse…his opponent: Jim Wyskiewicz (D).

The announcement has surprised few familiar with the history of interactions between the controversial mayor and his city’s award-winning fire department.

Towards the end of the release, Jim ties Mayor Stewart’s handling of the NBFD in with other hot-button local issues and lays them at the feet of Stewart:

“The men and women of our outstanding fire department deserve objective fairness and respect. As Mayor, I will ensure that any and all political considerations are eradicated from the process of promotions and hiring and I will reserve for the NBFD a permanent seat at our table. Our citizens deserve nothing less.” He added, “Areas of public safety are not playgrounds for politics.”

“Unfortunately, like the Tilcon Deal, our New Britain High School accreditation, and the Pinnacle Heights development, the NBFD situation has served only to expose the tragic impact of a closed-doors mayoral administration upon our City,” Wyskiewicz stated.