Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire endorse Maggie Goodlander for Congress

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NASHUA, NH – Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire (PFFNH) is the Granite State affiliate of the International Association of Firefighters  (IAFF).  On Thursday they endorsed Congressional candidate Maggie Goodlander in her run for the 2nd congressional district seat. The union represents approximately 2,000 active and retired members with 43 local unions in New Hampshire.

PPFNH President and Hampton fire captain Brian Ryll emphasized the importance of the race. The second district seat being vacated by Congresswoman Annie Kuster makes this an open race for the first time in 14 years.  Goodlander will face Republican Lily Tang-Williams in the November general election. With small congressional majorities, each open-seat race has taken on national significance this election cycle.

“We take our federal elections very seriously. We understand the weight our endorsement has in the state, throughout the country, and especially at the point where our politics are. As divided as they are right now, we appreciate how important this race is to the rest of the country,” said Ryll. 

“We have collaborated with the IAFF and discussed the endorsement. It was a no-brainer for us to  endorse Goodlander today,” he said.

He addressed the gathered firefighters and union officials and delivered the endorsement on behalf of the union.

“It is critical now more than ever that we elect candidates who will stand with us and not against us.  As firefighters and labor leaders, we focus exclusively on electing candidates who enhance our profession and protect our union,” said Ryll.

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The issues of most concern for the union are healthcare, retirement security, collective bargaining rights, staffing levels, line of duty benefits, and health and safety initiatives.  They have a history of aligning themselves in a bipartisan way with candidates who advocate for them on these issues.

Ryll stated, “We take pride in the fight for candidates who will stand with us and fight for us.  There is one candidate in the race for New Hampshire’s second congressional district who will do just that.  Maggie Goodlander has dedicated herself to a career in public service and has proved herself as a leader who yields results.”

“In Congress, we see a lot of talk and no action; in Maggie we see someone who just doesn’t talk about solving problems she has shown the will and stomach to back it up. She is driven by her values of community, citizenship, service and that our democracy isn’t something you watch happen on the sidelines it is something that you participate in.”

Goodlander accepted their endorsement in the Crown Hill Fire Station on East Pearl. The sounds of dispatcher calls over the station speaker system that punctuated her comments served as a solemn reminder of the mission of Nashua’s firefighters.

“I am so grateful to the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire for everything you do for New Hampshire and for putting your trust in faith in me as your next member of Congress,” she said.  It is really special for me to be in Nashua today, the city where I grew up and the city my family has called home for four generations.” 

Acknowledging the role of firefighters in our state she said, “ It is such a basic instinct to run away from fire, to run away from danger but what you do every day is to tackle it head on.  You keep us safe. I can’t imagine a more courageous thing for a person to do than to take on firefighting.”  

“You do not just fight fires, you do so much more.  You are on the frontline of the most vulnerable and consequential moments that our fellow citizens face. They are facing danger they are facing death and there you are. The bell rings, and you put on your gear and answer the call. I am beyond words for what you do,” she said.

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