Fire Fighters Rally Behind Navy SEAL Commander

52nd District Congressional Candidate Mike Lumpkin gets Federal IAFF endorsement

Click here to download Press Release PDF.

San Diego, CA- IAFF Local F-85 unanimously voted to endorse Navy SEAL Commander (Ret.) Mike Lumpkin for the 52nd Congressional District.

“We are proud to unanimously endorse Commander Mike Lumpkin’s candidacy for the 52nd Congressional District. It is an honor to support a candidate who has spent the past twenty-one years defending our great nation,” said IAFF F-85 President, David Kahaunele.

The Local IAFF President believes that firefighters share similar values and concerns. “Although our chosen professions are different, the mission is the same; defend this country from harm. Commander Lumpkin understands that firefighters, like veterans, face unique challenges and deserve meaningful, post-battle care. We respect his commitment to champion both in Congress and look forward to assisting his campaign efforts,” said Kahaunele.

Commander Lumpkin is honored by the support and confidence of the firefighters. “The way I see it, the brave men and women of the fire service are combat veterans who hold the line against a different type of deadly enemy,” said the retired SEAL. “It’s unconscionable that firefighters have to fight for a work-related injury presumption when their rates of stroke, cancer, heart disease and infectious diseases so clearly exceed the average citizen. Look at the type of work they do; of course it’s work-related,” said Lumpkin.

Mike’s respect for the firefighting community is personal. His father was a Vista firefighter until an on-the-job injury cut his career short. Mike is the past President of the Deerhorn Valley Volunteer Fire Station Auxiliary and a member of the Deerhorn Valley Volunteer Fire Station Community Service Zone Committee. During last October’s fire storms the firefighters bravely fought and saved Mike’s home.

“There was destruction and heat damage all around my home. It’s hard to imagine the courage it took to stand firm in that inferno. As far as I’m concerned, that makes us foxhole buddies,” said the Commander.