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Saint Paul proclaims Feb. 26, 2025 as Mike Smith Day, honors longtime firefighter and union leader
Summary
City council adopted a resolution proclaiming Feb. 26, 2025 as Mike Smith Day and honored his 27 years of service and 15 years as president of IAF Local 21; the resolution passed 6–1 after several councilmembers and the fire chief spoke.
The Saint Paul City Council adopted a resolution on Feb. 26 proclaiming Feb. 26, 2025 as Mike Smith Day to honor his 27 years with the fire department and 15 years as president of IAF Local 21. The resolution passed 6 in favor, no 1 opposed.
Why it matters: Councilmembers and the fire chief praised Smith—s leadership both as a frontline firefighter and as a union leader. Speakers credited him with wage gains for firefighters, membership growth in the union, and work to secure line-of-duty death benefits for a fallen firefighter.
Comments from the record: Fire Chief Anks described Smith as "one of the best firefighters this department's ever seen," recounting a 2020 incident during civil unrest and saying Smith—s presence and skill ensured a dangerous fire was extinguished. Smith spoke briefly, thanking colleagues for their support and reflecting on 15 years as union president.
Resolution text and vote: The resolution, read into the record, lists Smith—s hiring date (03/02/1998), promotions, union leadership achievements including wage increases and membership growth, and advocacy that contributed to state and federal consideration of line-of-duty benefits. The council approved the resolution 6-1.
Ceremonial details: The council invited the fire chief and other speakers to the dais; multiple councilmembers offered remarks praising Smith—s leadership and mentorship. The proclamation ceremony included family members and a reading of the resolution's findings.
