Firefighters Union Boss Jim Tracy Wins Second Term In Run-Off

CHICAGO — Firefighters Union president Jim Tracy won a second term Wednesday with 60-percent of the vote in a run-off election.

"It's truly an honor when you have the confidence of the membership to lead the union going forward during these difficult times," Tracy said.

"We're in a pandemic and we're in trouble. We need a contract, a lieutenant's test and a chief's test completed, and we have to keep fighting to take care of our men and women on the front lines of the pandemic."

Last month, Tracy accused Fire Commissioner Richard Ford III of "sandbagging" first respondersby not immediately extending line-of-duty death benefits to firefighters who died from new coronavirus-related conditions.

"I told him, there are 4,800 of us who answer the call every day that need to have confidence the commissioner is going to fight tooth-and-nail for us to protect our families. [Ford] said, 'It's not in his power.'" Tracy said. "I think it's disgusting."

Five days later, Ford changed his mind, announcing that he had classified the COVID-19-related deaths of firefighters Mario Araujo and Edward Singleton as on-duty fatalities, extending full benefits and honors.

"I don't understand why he decided he could make the call," Tracy said. "I'm just glad the right thing was finally done, but it should have happened from day one."

Tracy topped challenger Rob Tebbens, who had served as the union's political director.

Truck 51 firefighter Mark Egan was elected secretary treasurer in the run-off election, also winning 61 percent of the vote. Egan replaces 6-term secretary treasurer Mike O'Neal, who retired last month.