As the citizens of the city of Arlington begin to make their decision for who our next Mayor should be and what attributes we would like to see, perhaps we should consider the ones we don’t.

In September at the funeral of an Arlington firefighter’s father at which Steve Baker was an attendee, he approached that firefighter about our Local’s decision to support Barbara Tolbert for Mayor. The comment was made by Mr. Baker to the firefighter that we could count on “some serious repercussions for endorsing Barb Tolbert.”

This behavior and comment not only was very inappropriate, disrespectful and unprofessional but also ethically and morally wrong.

Steve Baker is representing the city of Arlington, as a current City Council member and is running for Mayor. Making a “veiled” threat to our members that are here to protect our citizens shows a lack of intent to work as a team for the common good of Arlington and its citizens in the future.

Mayor Margaret Larson is leaving behind a legacy of trust, partnership and solid leadership that has helped build Arlington into a wonderful place to live and work. It is critical that our Mayor work in partnership with other city leaders, members of police and fire and our citizens. Leadership is not defined by threatening or manipulating others but by working together in partnership.

We don’t feel that Steve Baker has the ethical or moral “compass” to lead Arlington into the future.

Marty Ruffner

Vice President Arlington Firefighters Local 3728 on behalf of the members of Local 3728