TOPEKA – Today, Governor Laura Kelly’s campaign announced the Kansas State Council of Fire Fighters endorsed Governor Kelly for re-election. Throughout her first term, Governor Kelly made sure first responders had a seat at the table. Governor Kelly expanded line-of-duty benefits, ensuring that firefighters no longer have to worry about their families being taken care of if something were to happen to them at work. Governor Kelly also fought to grant worker’s comp benefits to firefighters, law enforcement officers, first responders, healthcare workers, and other essential employees injured while responding to COVID-19. When she was unfortunately blocked by Attorney General Derek Schmidt, she created the essential worker healthcare fund which paid out over $10 million to cover lost wages, health care and related costs to first responders that contract COVID-19. This endorsement highlights Governor Kelly’s continued commitment to growing the workforce and strengthening Kansas’ public safety.
“Governor Kelly has a proven track record of supporting Kansas’ firefighters and first responders. We are proud to endorse her for re-election,” Council President Matt Jackson said. “Governor Kelly has helped Kansas firefighters feel seen and advocated for, and we’re looking forward to continuing to work with Governor Kelly in her second term.”
“I am honored to have the support of our firefighters,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “These public servants do so much and ask for so little in return– from responding to natural disasters, to fires and medical calls, to arriving first at the scene of wrecks and accidents – firefighters keep us safe and are always prepared to protect Kansans. I’m looking forward to working with them in the future and continuing to do right by our local firefighters.”
Governor Kelly’s campaign continues to build momentum earning broad support from every corner of Kansas, including over 125 current and former Kansas educators, Republican Kansas Governor Bill Graves, former RNC Committeewoman Alicia Salisbury, former Republican Attorney General Robert Stephan, former Republican Representative Jan Kessinger, former Republican Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger, over 160 other Kansas Republicans, the Kansas Carpenters Union, Equality Kansas, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union of Kansas, the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Union of Kansas, over 60 Kansas small business owners, the Kansas Service Employees International Union, the Kansas City Pipe Fitters Local 533 Union, the Kansas AFL-CIO, Kansas Laborers’ Local 1290, and End Citizens United & Let America Vote, The Greater Kansas City Building and Construction Trades Council, the Wichita / Hutchinson Labor Federation, the Ironworkers Local 10 Union, the Roofers Local 10 Union, Education First Shawnee Mission, and over 50 Kansas ranchers and farmers.
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