The Falcon Fire Protection District will participate in the May 6 election to determine who will fill the seats of current board members D. K. Starkman, Michael Smaldino and Henry Allen. Starkman and Smaldino are completing four-year terms, and Allen is completing a two-year term. There are five candidates running for the two four-year seats: Fred Little, David Rocco, Thomas Kerby, Cory Galicia and Marcos Ramirez. The two candidates for the two-year seats are Michael Smaldino and Joan Hathcock. Hereís a look at the candidates.Fred LittleAs a former firefighter with more than 33 years of experience with the Alameda County Fire Department in California, Fred Little said he wanted to get involved with the Falcon community in things that he loves, and firefighting is one of them.Little, who has lived in Meridian Ranch with his wife since 2012, said he helped grow the fire department in California and is experienced to do so with the FFPD. He would like to see a ìcoming togetherî of departments so residents can get more bang for the buck.ìItís a neat concept, and I know this place is kind of country out in this area,î Little said. ìWe could bring all the little departments together and make one big El Paso County Fire Department. Iím not saying thatís going to happen because the people that work here have to want to do something like that. But it is a way to improve their community and help their taxes go down.Little said his experience with other departments could help him guide the FFPD away from mistakes that other departments have made. ìIf you can have people on board Ö giving sound advice to make things not just better but spectacularly better, thatís a great thing,î he said.David RoccoDavid Rocco said he has worked as a career firefighter with the Colorado Springs Fire Department for 23 years but also spent three years working as a volunteer firefighter with the FFPD. His interest to serve on the board stems from his feelings that the district is going to face some growing pains in the future.Rocco and his family have lived in the Falcon area for about seven years, and he said the FFPDís efficiency and ability to effectively service all the areas within their boundaries is of concern to him, and he would like to be part of the solution.Rocco said he served in the United States Air Force as a military firefighter, and his extensive firefighting background has helped him understand things that will make him integral to the fire board. ìI understand response times and coverage areas,î Rocco said. ìI have a strong fire background as both a volunteer and paid firefighter.ìThe board needs a mix of business people and concerned citizens, as well as someone who knows about fire; someone who knows whatís realistic and whatís just blue sky.îThomas KerbyThomas Kerby said as a board member he would like to give back to the community and bring that sense of community back to the fire department. He said his civil engineering degree and knowledge about infrastructure, roads, water mains and water delivery systems, among other things, will help him serve on the board.ìIím a manager,î he said. ìThe board needs to operate as a managerial-type position. We want to enable Chief (Trent) Harwig to run the department because heís the professional. The board needs to look at the bigger picture and help him achieve the desired needs of the community.îKerby said he works as the chief main engineer for Meridian Ranch but has lived in Falcon Hills since 2000 with his wife of 20 years and their four children.He said he has been driving through the northern portions of the FFPDís coverage area for years and still sees many places where fire mitigation hasnít been done. ìEducating people on those different methods and means of getting that (mitigation) done is really important,î Kerby said.ìOne person isnít going to make a difference. Everybody has to operate as a team, from the community to the first responders to the fire chief to the board.îCory GaliciaCory Galicia spent 16 years working for the FFPD as a firefighter, first as a volunteer and then climbing the ladder to career battalion chief. He is in the construction business today but said he feels itís important to help the fire department get back on track with the community and to get the community back on track with the department.ìMy main goal is to bring the community back into the fire house,î Galicia said. ìItís been kind of separate over the last few years. ìDuring his time with the FFPD, Galicia helped develop the Explorer program for youth interested in firefighting and the emergency medical services program. He has lived in the Falcon community for 25 years and attended Falcon High School, where he met his wife.Galicia said his involvement with the FFPD has given him insight into the department that would be beneficial to the board. ìI know the department inside and out, and Iíve been involved in positive changes and growth within the department,î he said. ìI would be a positive influence on the other board members and my knowledge of the direction the fire chief is trying to take the department would be a big help.îMichael SmaldinoMichael Smaldino worked for the Bell System in California for 30 years before moving to Falcon in 2004. He said he recognizes that the board has had some difficulties but his goal is and always has been to ensure the FFPD is doing the best with the amount of money it has and the personnel it can support.ìI really want to make sure our people are trained and have the best safety equipment,î Smaldino said. ìI believe in training and safety. We have limited money but weíll make it work.îHe said being on the board for the past year has been a great learning experience for him. ìIt takes a little time to get really on board and really understand whatís going on so I think my experience of a year will be very helpful. Iíve been a people person forever. Anyone that wants to talk to me can always feel free to talk to me. I donít have any hidden agenda.îSmaldino, who has been married for 48 years and retired for 18, said the FFPD has a big job because they have such a large coverage area. ìI think we (the FFPD) do a pretty darn good job, though,î he said.Joan HathcockJoan Hathcock is a 45-year resident of El Paso County. She has served on boards including the Colorado State High School Rodeo Association (two years) and the National High School Rodeo Association (four years). Hathcock has also served on the El Paso County Planning Commission, the Colorado Springs Housing and Building Association Political Action Committee and the HBA board.Hathcock has run an electrical company, D & J Quality Electric, for 30 years. Previously, she spent 15 years as a general contractor specializing in building custom homes.When asked why she wants to be on the FFPD, Hathcock said, ìBecause I want to give back to the community, and make the fire district the best it can be. I want to make the community aware of mitigation and make it better for the firefighters.î Having been on ìsome kind of boardî for the past 25 years, she said, ìIím not the kind to sit on the sidelines and complain. I like to get involved.îMarcos M. RamirezMarcos Ramirez is a retired sheriff’s sergeant from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, with 26 years of public service. He has experience supervising personnel, dealing with logistics, managing budgets and problem solving. He has had great success working with both local and federal government agencies. Ramirez served on the negotiation team with the San Diego Deputy Sheriffís Association during wage negotiations, resulting in a successful outcome for all parties involved.Ramirez has experienced crisis situations and knows the necessity of having inter-agency cooperation and efficient public safety programs. Ramirez was awarded the San Diego Sheriffís Medal of Valor for demonstrating heroism, courage and self-sacrifice while evacuating residents during the 2007 firestorm in Southern California. Last year, his land and trees burned during the Black Forest fire, but his partially constructed home was saved.Ramirez is a graduate of San Diego State University, and is also a graduate of the Sherman Block Leadership Institute. Because Falcon is a growing community, the demand for efficient public safety services is great, he said. Ramirez said he can lend his experience to assist the FFPD in preparing for the future.
