With the city election fast approaching, the Canandaigua Professional Firefighters I.A.F.F. Local 2098 is calling on residents to make public safety a top priority at the polls.
In a recent public statement, the union stressed that the future of the Canandaigua Fire Department is directly tied to the choices voters make when electing City Council members, urging residents to support candidates who are committed to fully funding and safely staffing the department.
“This election, the safety of our community is on the ballot,” the union wrote. “We need City Council members who understand that public safety is a core investment, not just an added budget expense.”
The firefighters are pushing for:
- Full staffing on every fire truck, in line with national safety standards
- Safe staffing levels, calling them a necessity for timely emergency response
- Competitive pay and benefits to retain experienced personnel
Voters are encouraged to research each candidate’s position on fire department funding and staffing, speak directly with candidates, and ask where they stand on public safety priorities.
Mayoral candidate responds
The Canandaigua City Democratic Committee responded to the union’s call, sharing a statement from mayoral candidate Thomas F.T. Lyon. Lyon highlighted his past work on public safety planning and pledged to continue pushing for responsible investments in the fire department.
“I agree that public safety is a core investment in our community,” Lyon wrote, noting that recent efforts included a new public safety study and the addition of two firefighter positions in the 2025 city budget. “The City and the fire department face increasing demand, and an expanded need for regional collaboration,” he added.
Lyon acknowledged the challenge of balancing staffing needs with budget constraints but said the current council has made progress — increasing the fire department’s paid staff to 20 in 2025, which aligns with short-term goals outlined in the latest planning study.
The firefighters’ union closed its message by urging all candidates — Republican and Democrat — to publicly pledge their support for staffing and retention investments and to share those commitments with voters.
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