ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Hogan for Governor recently announced that the Prince George’s County Professional Fire Fighters & Paramedics Association IAFF Local 1619 is proud to endorse Governor Larry Hogan’s re-election. This important endorsement adds to the historic level of support for Governor Hogan from a coalition of current and former Democratic leaders, public sector and private sector unions, and business groups.
“The Prince George’s County Professional Fire Fighters & Paramedics Association IAFF Local 1619 is proud endorse Governor Hogan,” said Andrew Pantelis, President of Prince George’s County Professional Fire Fighters & Paramedics Association IAFF Local 1619. “Maryland’s first responders and fire fighters have this governor’s back because we know that he’s never stopped fighting for us. We look forward to working with Governor Hogan over the next four years as he continues to accomplish our priorities.”
Governor Hogan has also been endorsed by the Prince George’s County Fraternal Order Of Police (FOP) Lodge #89. “The Prince George’s County Fraternal Order Of Police Lodge #89 is tremendously proud to endorse Governor Hogan,” said John Teletchea, President of the Prince George’s County Fraternal Order Of Police Lodge #89. “Our governor has always had Maryland’s law enforcement community’s back, and we look forward to doing all we can to ensure he is reelected this November.”
From the very start of Governor Hogan’s first term in office, he has worked to enact legislation and policies that support fire fighters and first responders. In 2017, the governor pushed for and enacted the Hometown Heroes Act to exempt the first $15,000 of their retirement income from state taxes. This year, new legislation was introduced by the governor and signed into law to expand the reach of this initiative. Governor Hogan has introduced legislation three times to exempt 100 percent of fire fighters and first responder’s retirement income from state income taxes and has pledged to continue fighting to reach this goal. Today’s endorsements by the Prince George’s County Professional Fire Fighters & Paramedics Association IAFF Local 1619 underscore Governor Hogan’s commitment to protect those who protect Marylanders and his strong leadership on public safety issues that have benefited citizens across the state.
“Growing up in Prince George’s County, I’ve seen over my entire lifetime the bravery and heroism of Prince George’s County firefighters, and it’s a tremendous honor to receive their endorsement,” said Governor Hogan. “Over the last four years, I have been moved time and again by the courage and selflessness of our state’s fire fighters. These outstanding individuals are at their finest when others need them the most. During my second term, I pledge that our professional firefighters will always have a friend in the governor’s office, an open door, and a seat at the table. I look forward to working with them in my second term as we continue to fight for the issues that matter to Maryland’s fire fighters.”
In addition to the Prince George’s County Professional Fire Fighters & Paramedics Association IAFF Local 1619, Governor Hogan has been endorsed by 53 Democratic leaders, including Senator Jim Brochin, a former lt. governor, two former Speakers of the House of Delegates, and the Mayors of Bowie and Gaithersburg, the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), the United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters, Sprinklerfitters, Welders and HVAC Technicians (UA), the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF), the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the State Law Enforcement Officers Labor Alliance (SLEOLA), the Maryland Fire Chiefs Association, the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers, the Maryland State Pipe Trades Association (MDPT), the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 2563, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 582, the Steamfitters & Plumbers Local Union 486, the Steamfitters Local Union 602, the Fire Sprinkler Fitters Local Union 669, the Steamfitters & Plumbers Local Union 489, the Plumbers Local Union 5, the LIUNA Local 11, the LIUNA Local 572, the LIUNA Local 710, the Maryland Flight Paramedics Association, the Baltimore Fire Fighters Local 734, the Career Firefighters Association of Frederick Local 3666, the Salisbury Career Fire Fighters, the Ocean City Career Fire Fighters and Paramedics, and the Worcester County Professional Fire Fighters, the Baltimore City Fraternal Order Of Police (FOP) Lodge #3, the Montgomery County Fraternal Order Of Police (FOP) Lodge #35, the Prince George’s County Fraternal Order Of Police (FOP) Lodge #89, Annapolis City Fraternal Order Of Police (FOP) Lodge #1, the Anne Arundel County Fraternal Order Of Police (FOP) Lodge #70, the St. Mary’s County Fraternal Order Of Police (FOP) Lodge #7, the Talbot County Fraternal Order Of Police (FOP) Lodge #18, the Carroll County Fraternal Order Of Police (FOP) Lodge #20, the Howard County Police Officers’ Association – Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #21, the Cecil County Fraternal Order Of Police (FOP) Lodge #2, the Greenspring Valley Fraternal Order Of Police (FOP) Lodge #76, the Mount Rainer Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #85, the Maryland Asphalt Association (MAA), the Maryland Ready Mix Concrete Association (MRMCA, and the Maryland Motor Truck Association (MMTA), the Maryland Building Industry Association (MBIA), the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), NAIOP the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, and the Maryland REALTORS®.
The IAFF has headquarters in Washington, DC, and Ottawa, Ontario, and represents more than 313,000 full-time professional fire fighters and paramedics in more than 3,200 affiliates. IAFF members protect more than 85 percent of the population in communities throughout the United States and Canada.