Fire Fighters Give Guv Candidate Diane Denish Earliest Endorsement in Union's History

All aspects of elections, including endorsements, are now occurring earlier and earlier in election cycles. Take this, for example: Almost three years from before the general election, gubernatorial candidate and Lt. Governor received the endorsement of the New Mexico Professional Fire Fighters Association. The association has 1,200 members across the state, including Hobbs, Carlsbad, Las Cruces, Artesia, Deming, Silver City, Gallup, Farmington, Raton, Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Espanola, Las Vegas, Santa Fe County, Sandoval County, Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, Socorro and Los Lunas.

In voting for the endorsement last weekend, the firefighters cited Denish's efforts to improve their working conditions and addressing their health and safety issues through the years. Denish was instrumental in helping to pass a line-of-duty death benefit and a Fire Fighters Day of Remembrance to be held each Sept. 11.

"In addition to supporting the firefighters' health and safety issues, we are happy with the lieutenant governor's work with children and education as well as health care," said Emily Kane, President of the association. "We know she understands what working families need to have a good quality of life. She is accessible, unpretentious, smart and a great representative for our state. This is definitely the earliest we have ever endorsed anyone, but it was an easy decision."

Denish said she was honored by the endorsement.

"Our firefighters have proven their courage and selflessness time and again," she said. "I'm grateful to the honorable men and women who race into burning buildings, breathe life into a stranger's lungs and preserve our homes, our memories and our families. I'll continue to work toward ensuring they get the proper training and equipment and have appropriate health safeguards."