Text and analysis of press release announcing “National First Responders Coalition Leadership”
On Friday, the campaign announced the formation of its “National First Responders Coalition Leadership”, featuring various luminaries in the field. Most prominent on the list was former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge. Ridge served two terms as governor of Pennsylvania, elected in 1994 and re-elected in 1998 by wide margins, and is the key to Senator McCain’s considerable support in Pennsylvania (he runs second in polls there, only to Giuliani). Ridge and McCain have been friends, since they both served together in the U.S. House, during the early 1980s (Ridge represented a district based in Erie, in the far northwest corner of the state).
The formation of this leadership clearly is intended to demonstrate McCain’s trustworthiness when it comes to dealing with national emergencies, whether a terrorist attack such as 9/11, or a natural disaster such as Hurricane Katrina.
Here’s the text:
ARLINGTON, VA — U.S. Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign today unveiled its National First Responders Coalition leadership in Concord, New Hampshire. The National First Responders Coalition will be led by National Chair Tom Ridge, the first Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and former Governor of Pennsylvania.
Joining Secretary Ridge as National First Responders Coalition Co-Chairs are Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca; John S. Dempsey, Captain, New York City Police Department (Ret.); former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating; Robert “Bud” McFarlane, former National Security Advisor for President Ronald Reagan; and Edward D. Mullins, President of the Sergeants Benevolent Association of New York City.
“I am proud to have the support of this distinguished group of leaders from the first responder community,” said John McCain. “I am grateful for their support, but more importantly, our country thanks them for their service. We are engaged in a new war, where the battlefield can be a village in Afghanistan, an English subway station, or the American heartland. And as the tragic loss of so many brave police, fire and rescue personnel on 9/11 made plain, America’s first responders are on the front lines of this war, and must have the equipment, training and staffing to meet this challenge.”
“The 9/11 Commission’s findings highlighted the need for improved communications interoperability,” McCain stated. “Before 9/11, I worked to increase the amount of spectrum available for first responders, in the face of opposition from special interests. After the 9/11 Commission report was released, I introduced legislation to allocate more spectrum and funding to improve communications for our nation’s first responders. I remain dedicated to ensuring that our firefighters and police can communicate effectively in times of crisis, an imperative made clear in the wake of 9/11 and, more recently, Hurricane Katrina. In the aftermath of such tragedy it is unconscionable that our first responders still face the specter of being unable to communicate effectively during crisis. When lives are on the line, seconds count. And reliable emergency communications become a matter of life and death.”
Secretary Tom Ridge said, “John McCain and I share a tremendous appreciation for the first responder community. They are the first to show up and the last to leave when an emergency occurs. With great sacrifice and personal courage, they demonstrate time after time what it means to pull together for the national good. These brave public servants need a leader who will support and strengthen their ability to protect our homeland. They have that support in John McCain.”
Sheriff Lee Baca stated, “I am proud to support John McCain. His strength on the issues critical to keeping us safe sets him apart from any other candidate. I applaud his efforts to further professionalize police, fire, medical and citizen first responder coordination for any size disaster in America.”
Governor Frank Keating said, “I am honored to serve as Co-Chair for John McCain’s first responders coalition. As our nation faces threats of terrorism, natural disaster and other emergencies, a new and increased emphasis must be placed on the law enforcement and rescue personnel who are first on the scene. We must make sure they are properly trained, equipped and coordinated to serve on the front lines.”
Ed Mullins said, “I am proud to represent law enforcement on John McCain’s National First Responders team. Senator McCain has been a steadfast supporter of law enforcement and I am honored to work with him to ensure the safety and security of our great nation.”
Read more about John McCain’s commitment to first responders: www.johnmccain.com/firstresponders
MCCAIN NATIONAL FIRST RESPONDERS COALITION LEADERSHIP TEAM
Secretary Tom Ridge, National Chair — Following the tragic events of September 11th, 2001, Tom Ridge became the first Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and, on January 24, 2003, became the first Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The creation of the country’s 15th Cabinet Department marked the largest reorganization of government since the Truman administration. During his tenure, Secretary Ridge worked with more than 180,000-plus employees from a combined 22 agencies to create an agency that facilitated the flow of people and goods, instituted layered security at air, land and seaports, developed a unified national response and recovery plan, protected critical infrastructure, integrated new technology and improved information sharing worldwide. Tom Ridge served as Secretary of this historic and critical endeavor until February 1, 2005. Before the events of September 11th, Tom Ridge was twice elected Governor of Pennsylvania, serving as the state’s 43rd governor from 1995 to 2001. Born August 26, 1945, in Pittsburgh’s Steel Valley, Ridge was raised in a working-class family in veterans’ public housing in Erie. He earned a scholarship to Harvard, graduating with honors in 1967. After his first year at The Dickinson School of Law, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served as an infantry staff sergeant in Vietnam, earning the Bronze Star for Valor, the Combat Infantry Badge and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. After returning to Pennsylvania and to Dickinson, he earned his law degree and was in private practice before becoming assistant district attorney in Erie County. Tom Ridge was elected to Congress in 1982. He was one of the first Vietnam combat veterans elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and was overwhelmingly re-elected by Pennsylvania voters five times.
Sheriff Lee Baca, National Co-Chair — Lee Baca is Sheriff of Los Angeles County, commanding the largest Sheriff’s Department in the world, supervising more than 13,000 sworn and civilian personnel in the nation’s largest county, serving ten million people. Sheriff Baca’s public service career began on August 23, 1965, when he was sworn into the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department as a Deputy Sheriff Trainee. Sheriff Baca worked through the early portion of his career in custody, recruitment, on patrol on the streets of East Los Angeles, and as staff instructor at the Sheriff’s Academy. He rose through the ranks, and in 1981 was appointed to Captain by then Sheriff Peter Pitchess and selected to command Norwalk Station. Sheriff Baca was promoted to Commander by first-term Sheriff Sherman Block. Sheriff Baca excelled as the Commander of numerous stations as well as Aero Bureau and Special Enforcement Bureau. On January 21, 1992, Sheriff Sherman Block again promoted Sheriff Baca, this time to the rank of Chief. In 1993, Sheriff Baca graduated from the University of Southern California with a Doctorate of Public Administration. He is a life member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi — USC Chapter. On December 7, 1998, Sheriff Baca was sworn in as Los Angeles County’s 30th Sheriff, having been elected by the citizens of Los Angeles County.
John S. Dempsey, National Co-Chair — John S. Dempsey was a member of the New York Police Department (NYPD) for 24 years. He served as a police officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain. His primary assignments were patrol and investigations. He received seven citations from the Department for meritorious and excellent police duty. After retiring from the NYPD, Professor Dempsey served on the faculty of Suffolk County Community College, and the State University of New York Empire College, where he teaches criminal justice and public administration courses and mentors ranking members of law enforcement and criminal justice agencies.
Governor Frank Keating, National Co-Chair – Governor Frank Keating served as the 25th Governor of Oklahoma from 1995 to 2003. His 30-year career in law enforcement and public service included stints as an FBI agent; U.S. Attorney and state prosecutor; as well as Oklahoma House and Senate member. He served Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush in the Treasury, Justice, and Housing departments. His service in Treasury and Justice gave him responsibility for all federal criminal prosecutions in the nation and oversight over such agencies as the Secret Service, U.S. Customs, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, U.S. Marshals, the Bureau of Prisons, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. In 1993, he returned to Oklahoma to run for Governor. He won a three-way race by a landslide and was easily reelected in 1998, becoming only the second governor in Oklahoma history to serve two consecutive terms. Governor Keating won national acclaim in 1995 for his compassionate and professional handling of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal building in Oklahoma City. In the aftermath of the tragedy, he raised more than $6 million to fund scholarships for the nearly 200 children left with only one or no parents.
Robert “Bud” McFarlane, National Co-Chair — The Honorable Robert “Bud” McFarlane served as President Ronald Reagan’s National Security Advisor from 1983 to 1985. In 1971, Mr. McFarlane was named a White House Fellow and served in the Office of Legislative Affairs in the White House. Following that assignment, he became Military Assistant to Henry Kissinger and Brent Scowcroft. Near the end of this five-year assignment to the White House he was appointed by President Gerald Ford as his Special Assistant for National Security Affairs and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy & Marine Corps’ highest peacetime military decoration. In 1981, Mr. McFarlane was appointed by President Reagan and confirmed byf the U.S. Senate as Counselor to the Department of State. In 1982, President Reagan appointed Mr. McFarlane to Deputy National Security Advisor.
Edward D. Mullins, National Co-Chair — Edward D. Mullins has been a member of the New York City Police Department since January 1982. On July 1, 2002, he was elected President of the Sergeants Benevolent Association by an overwhelming majority of its members. Early in his career he was assigned to the 13 Precinct on Manhattan’s East Side. After nearly 10 years he was promoted to Detective and assigned to the 10 Precinct in Manhattan’s Chelsea area. Promoted to Sergeant in 1993, he was assigned to the 19 Precinct on Manhattan’s Upper East Side and subsequently transferred to the Detective Bureau in Brooklyn South, where he served in the 67 Precinct Detective Squad, Special Victims Squad, and the Kings County District Attorney’s Office. Mullins learned about labor management as a PBA and SBA delegate in the 13 and 19 Precincts and the Detective Bureau.