Fire union endorses Milton Street, ignites mayor campaign

After the city’s firefighters union formally endorsed his mayoral candidacy yesterday, Milton Street wasn’t worried whether it’s perceived as a slight against his opponent rather than vocal support for him.

“I don’t care if it’s anti-Michael Nutter. … All that matters is getting the votes to win the election,” Street said. “We have to put our firefighters in a position where they can maximize the safety of our citizens. I intend to do that.”

Local 22 President Bill Gault explained the union’s decision by citing fiscal decisions he claims have lead to deaths and how Nutter has “failed his obligations” to firefighters’ families and “the citizens that we swore an oath to protect.”

Asked for comment earlier in the day, Nutter shrugged slightly before saying he had “no particular reaction. They have a right to support who they want. … I hope and am asking [individual firefighters] for their votes. That’s the ultimate endorsement.”

Street described his campaign as “we’re right where we need to be at this point” and last night told Metro that the city’s blue-collar workers’ union, District Council 33, gave him their support in a vote shortly before 9 p.m.