By Adam Pagnucco.
International Association of Fire Fighters Local Union 1664 President Jeffrey Buddle has released an unusual statement attacking County Executive Marc Elrich for comments he made on Fox 5 last night. The statement is especially noteworthy given the fact that the union has been a strong ally of Elrich in the past, endorsing him repeatedly in his past runs for office.
At the root of the dispute is the county executive’s nomination of Division Chief Charles Bailey as county fire chief. Bailey could not get the votes for confirmation and the executive decided to seek other choices. None of my sources will go on the record about Bailey, calling it a personnel matter, but it was clear that the union opposed his nomination.
In discussing the failed nomination with Fox 5 reporter Bob Barnard, Elrich said a number of things. Following is a transcript of his comments as reported in the station’s video from last night.
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Elrich: I still feel that, you know, of all the people we interviewed, he was certainly the most qualified…
We don’t have the support for it, and so we don’t bring something forward if we know we’re not going to have the votes to pass it.
Reporter: Do you know why you don’t have support for Chief Bailey?
Elrich: I have not talked to enough people and I… some issues I’m not allowed to discuss because it’s personnel…
If I’m disappointed at anybody it’s with the fire union because you… obviously they played a role in trying to torpedo this and I think you all know that. And what was troubling was part of my openness with the unions, you know, we allowed them in these interviews. So the union president was in the interview and raised no issues with us.
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Those comments outraged union president Jeffrey Buddle, a normally placid fellow whose organization has been a supporter of Elrich for many years. Buddle fired off an email to Fox 5’s Barnard which was blind-copied to me and presumably many other people in the press. While he makes several non-specific allegations against Bailey (which he has declined to discuss before in response to my questions), it’s clear that his real target is Elrich. Buddle’s email is reprinted below.
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Subject: Response to County Executive Elrich Comments
On a half dozen occasions over the course of a year the union president had discussions regarding senior MCFRS [Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service] officials along with the Fire Chief selection process.
On November 28, 2022, the union president emailed the County Executive, bringing attention to then Fire Chief Scott Goldstein and his failure to lead, failure to act regarding concerns of misconduct, and failure to adhere to the guiding principles of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service. Most relevant, this email raised several concerns of misconduct regarding senior management officials (including Division Chief Bailey). The union received no response from the County Executive. In a subsequent meeting the union inquired into the status of its concerns, the County Executive seemed confused and was unable to discuss the significant and serious concerns that were raised.
On June 28, 2023, the union president participated in the Fire Chief candidate interview process and again raised concerns after the interview that the previous concerns about Division Chief Bailey had not been addressed or investigated in any meaningful way.
On July 31, 2023, the union president wrote to the administration expressing “many concerns” the union heard from members regarding Division Chief Bailey. Additionally, the email referenced the November 2022 letter to the County Executive and expressed that the union had received no follow-up. The union has received no substantive response to either correspondence other than anecdotal remarks that the County Executive’s Office was unable to identify any of these issues.
On August 8, 2023, the union president and other organizational representatives met in person with the Chief Executive to discuss the Fire Chief selection process and, yet again, raised concerns about the lack of inquiry into serious allegations regarding Division Chief Bailey. The union again was ignored.
On August 17, 2023, the union president spoke in person with the County Executive during the Maryland Association of Counties Annual Conference and again raised concerns regarding Division Chief Bailey and the lack of follow-up regarding the multiple and repeated times the union queried about this important issue.
On November 13, 2023, the union president met with the County Executive in person at his office located at the Executive Office Building in Rockville. The union president specifically asked if the County Executive understood the unions concerns. The County Executive acknowledged the union’s concerns, but stated that he was moving forward with the nomination notwithstanding the union’s concerns.
The union and other representative organizations previously identified a highly qualified candidate that would have received a broad and diverse range of support. Hopefully, the County Executive will go back and take a second look at previous candidates and reach consensus with critical stakeholders on a new nominee that is free of controversy. The union stands ready to continue to work cooperatively with the Office of the County Executive to find the best qualified candidate for the important post of MCFRS Fire Chief.
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I have asked the county executive’s spokesman for any comment by Elrich or Bailey. If I receive something, I’ll print it.