Firefighters ask Arlington council to press North County RFA to honor prior agreement on next fire chief

A union representative for North County professional firefighters asked the Arlington City Council to ask the North County Regional Fire Authority (RFA) board to honor an earlier agreement naming Dave Kraske as the next fire chief after Chief John Cermak’s retirement.

Kirk Norman, vice president of the North County Snohomish Professional Firefighters, said the merger talks in 2021 led the community, the Arlington Fire Department union and voters to expect Kraske would assume the chief role. Norman told the council the North County Board of Commissioners has “chosen not to honor their agreement with the city of Arlington, its citizens or the firefighters that serve the community.” He said North County commissioners were seeking outside applicants with “no indication as to why.”

“ My ask of you is ... ask them if they intend to honor their word to our community in making Dave Kraske the next fire chief of North County Regional Fire Authority,” Norman said.

Council members responded that they had been involved in earlier merger discussions and supported Kraske’s succession. Councilmember Heather Logan said she had been a consultant on communications for the RFA negotiation and noted several commissioners present at those negotiations are no longer on the panel; Logan asked colleagues to contact the North County board at its next meeting on Feb. 12 to request clarification of the agreement’s status.

Councilmember Michelle Blythe said she had reviewed retreat recordings and a draft contract and that it had been clear Chief Kraske would be the next chief; Blythe said she planned to speak at the North County meeting as well. Councilmember Jen Schweddy said she “is in firm support of Dave Kraske” and offered to assist.

The council did not take formal action at the meeting; council members said they would raise the matter with the RFA board at its next meeting and indicated several members planned to attend.