Firefighters back former chief's Provo opponent

PROVO — The majority of Provo's firefighters are endorsing an incumbent city councilman in his re-election race against the man who retired as their chief three months ago.

The endorsement of Steve Turley by Provo Firefighters Local 593 comes a month before Turley and retired fire chief Coy Porter square off in the Nov. 6 election.

The union represents 57 of 66 Provo's frontline firefighters. Their decision did not surprise Turley, whom they supported four years ago. It didn't surprise Porter, either. He characterized it as the natural fallout of management-labor disagreements.

Porter said disciplinary actions he took against some firefighters likely contributed to the endorsement and agreed a messy moment in the 2005 mayoral election probably was also a factor.

Ten days before that vote two years ago, while Porter was still chief, he endorsed his boss, Mayor Lewis Billings, for re-election over friend and retired Provo Fire Capt. Dave Bailey.

"That didn't endear me to the union, either," Porter said Friday.

Two other former fire chiefs joined Porter's endorsement of the mayor in a campaign mailer that helped Billings win a third term as Provo's mayor. The mailer underscored the long-standing rift between the city's firefighters and Billings.

Firefighters declined to comment on that incident Friday. Part of the reticence may be due to the fact that new Provo Fire Chief Blair Kemp, hired last month, is a longtime friend of Porter's.

Local 593 President Jeremy Millet declined to comment beyond a written statement, except to say he didn't want the endorsement to cause any more division within the department.

"We know both of these fine gentlemen running for this seat and have chosen to support Councilman Steve Turley," Millet said in the statement. "During his four years on the council, Steve has been a tireless advocate for Provo's public safety. . . . His continued leadership on behalf of Provo Fire & Rescue as well as its citizens give us optimism that our best days lie ahead."

Porter, who spent 30 years in the department, said he did far more for Provo firefighters as chief than Turley has done in four years on the council. He also said Turley was part of union missteps that cost Provo's firefighters some benefits.

For example, firefighters work 56-hour weeks but are paid for 53. They were compiling the extra three hours to use for vacations until the union went to the council to complain they didn't have enough flexibility with those hours.

The council took the issue to the mayor, who had Porter review the law and ordered it followed strictly. Now firefighters have to use their extra time within 18 days.