Voting Procedures 2025 Elections

Voting procedures and timelines for 2025 Elections

For the position of Vice President –

Voting for the position of vice president will be held via an online vote through the Locals secure website. Voting will open at 0900 on Monday 12/01/2025 and will close at 1700 on Tuesday 12/09/2025.

If you are unable to login to the secure area of the Locals website, please reach out to either Secretary/Treasurer Eliason at (206) 356-6085 or Communications Director Simpson at (253) 212-6622, as soon as possible to ensure you will be able to access the voting area.

 

For the position of President –

Voting for the position of President will be held via a paper secret ballot vote to conform to rules of the IAFF. Voting will open at 0900 on Monday 12/01/2025 and will close at 1730 on Tuesday 12/09/2025.

Official ballots will be distributed to each station on Tuesday 11/25/2025 for members to pick up.

You must be present and sign the roster before casting your ballot, proxy voting is not allowed.

To cast your ballot, Election Chair Laidlaw will be making rounds to each of the stations with the secure ballot box and the official roster to collect your ballot during the open voting period covering each shift at least one time.

If you are off the day the ballot box makes the rounds at your station, please reach out to Elections Chair Laidlaw (206) 257-8007 or President Ryan Freed (206) 919-5867, to coordinate casting your ballot.

If you will not be on shift at any point during the open voting period or able to attend the union meeting on the closing day of voting please refer to Article VII, Section 2 of the Constitution & Bylaws noted below.

Section 2 – Alternate Voting Methods:

If a member in good standing will not be available to vote during the official voting period, that member may petition the Secretary for use an alternative voting process. This process is only available for elections and referendum votes, and not a floor vote.

A member wishing to use the alternative voting process will notify the Secretary, in writing, a minimum of ten (10) business days before the official opening of the voting period. The member must express their desire to use the alternative voting process, and the reason for not being available to vote during the official voting period. Upon receipt of written application for the alternative voting process, the Secretary is authorized to make appropriate arrangements to receive the applying member’s vote. Examples of these arrangements are:

Preparing an advanced ballot

Voting via electronic resources such as email, telephone, text, etc.

Other reasonable and fair arrangements as determined by the Secretary

The Secretary will keep all alternative votes secret.

 

If you wish to petition for the above outlined alternative voting methods, please reach out to Secretary/Treasurer Eliason via email ([email protected]) or Text (206) 356-6085, no later than Friday 11/21/2025.

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Veterans Day

Brothers and Sisters,

Today we honor those who have served and those who continue to serve—both in the armed forces and on the streets of our own communities. The same drive that led you to raise your hand for military service shows up every day in the way you show up for others here.

Service doesn’t stop when the uniform changes. It’s a mindset—a commitment to something bigger than yourself. That spirit runs deep in this organization, and it’s what makes us who we are.

To all our veterans and active service members—thank you for setting that example.

Proud to serve beside you,

Ryan Freed

President Local 1352

Valley Professional Firefighters

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L1352 November Update

Friendly reminder that we have a union meeting tomorrow night, 6pm at station 31. Come try out a meeting, you might just like it. We have some nice topics in store; contract negotiations update, executive board elections (nominations still open for President, Vice President, & Board Position 1). Nominations will be accepted through tomorrow and close at the end of the union meeting. Nominations can be done in person at the meeting or by contacting Brother Laidlaw.

Christmas season is right around the corner and the Toys for kids team will be asking for all of us to join in and help collect donations for one of our most impactful events this local does.

In less exciting news, we have have some older L1352 T-shirts at 31, please take as many as you like.

That’s about all, can’t wait to see everyone’s dirty mustaches tomorrow.

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2025 STACHE DASH

As many of you know, for the past 5 years Chief John and myself have put on an annual mustache competition. This years mustache competition proceeds will be 100% donated to the lionheart foundation in the honor of Chief Bill Mack, and with that being said this year I want to open the competition to the entire zone. For those in attendance of Chief Mack’s funeral, the impact he had on not only his own department but also every neighboring agency was palpable. So this years competition will be held in the month of November and broken into three categories:

1. Salty and you know it – for those already rocking a sweet stache

2. Fresh face- who can grow the best mustache in one month

3. Fake it till you make it – for those with less fertile upper lip glands but want to participate

 The competition will conclude with a 5K Stache dash at point Ruston waterfront in Tacoma followed by an awards ceremony and refreshments at 7 seas brewery on November 30th. The entry fee will be $40.

You do not have to participate in the 5k to be entered in the mustache competition, and you also don’t have to grow a mustache to donate to a great cause. The goal is a fun event for a good cause, and I would love to see this year be the most participation we’ve had yet for Chief Mack.

All donations can be sent to my venmo: @brett-connelly-1 or you can always leave cash in my locker if venmo is not your thing.

Thank you all, and excited to see a great turnout on the 30th!

Fraternally in lip hair,

Brett Connelly

 

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Political Update

Special thanks to Erica Bartlett and John Stivers for taking the time to help sign waive in support of Mayor Nancy Backus and City Council Member Lisa Stirgus today!

If you are available tomorrow morning, 10/29 0630-0830, any and all help would be much appreciated!

The location has changed to the Starbucks on the corner of 15th st NE, and I st NE. Hope to see you all there!

Contact Sequist for any questions or concerns.
(253)232-3473

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Sign Waving Help

Sign waiving help needed! Looking for people to support Mayor Nancy Backus and Auburn Council Member Lisa Stirgus in their campaigns.

 

10/29 and 10/30, meeting at Cross St/ A St SE @0630-0830

 

11/4, Lakeland Hills meeting at Lake Tapps Pkwy/ Lakeland Hills Way @1830-2030

 

Union apparel is encouraged but not required, please do not wear any VRFA gear.

 

Contact Sequist if you have questions.

(253)232-3473

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Mid October Update

Thank you to everyone that was able to make it to the Union Banquet this past weekend. It was a great evening with the fire family and I believe everyone had a good time. I personally was not able to stay for the Bill Mack Memorial craps table action, but I hope he was looking down on you, smiling, and hopefully giving a little luck. A big thank you to John Stivers and Blake Laidlaw for organizing such a great event.

At the last union meeting we had a presentation from a financial advisor group. It’s a local team from Enumclaw consisting of a father and his two sons. The father is a retired Seattle Firefighter, so they understand our needs and our retirement system. They offer a free consultation. If you would like to see their PowerPoint presentation, just reach out to Simpson.

 

We are in full swing for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. If you are still in need of the Navy Breast Cancer shirt, please contact Simpson via email or cell, 253-212-6622

 

Lastly, nominations are currently open for Local 1352 President, Vice President, and Board Position #1/Polictical Liaison. You can nominate anyone by contacting Blake Laidlaw or at the next union meeting on November 11th. Nominations will close after that union meeting. VP and Board Position #1 will be an online vote. President will be a hand written ballot vote. More information on that process as we get closer.

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Message from President Freed

Brothers and Sisters,

I’ll be stepping down as President of IAFF Local 1352 effective January 1, 2026, as I transition into my new role as a Battalion Chief. This comes from a place of respect for both positions and the understanding that it’s time to allow new leadership to carry the work forward.

Serving as your President has been one of the greatest honors of my career. It hasn’t always been easy, and not every decision has been perfect — but it’s been genuine. We’ve been through some incredibly difficult moments together, especially during the pandemic, when strong feelings and differing opinions challenged our unity. Those times tested us all. I know some may have wished I handled things differently, and I understand that. What I hope everyone knows is that every decision I made came from a place of honesty and care for this membership.

This role — like any in leadership — demands a lot from the people who step into it. Balancing work, family, and union responsibilities is never simple, but it’s worth every ounce of effort when it means representing and protecting our members. As I step back, I’ll remain part of this local and continue to support its success.

Tyler Eliason and Dan Sequist have announced their intent to run for President, and I believe both will bring passion, commitment, and integrity to the position. My ask of the membership is simple: support them, stay engaged, and give grace to those who step up. Leadership isn’t about perfection — it’s about standing in the arena, doing the work, and learning as you go.

Thank you for the trust, the challenges, and the opportunity to serve. I’m proud of what we’ve built together, and I’m confident Local 1352’s best chapters are still ahead.

In Solidarity and Strength,

Ryan Freed

President, IAFF Local 1352

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L1352 October Update

A few announcements for L1352:

Next union meeting is October 14th at station 31. Elections will be open for Vice President and Political Director nominations. Also, President will be open this cycle with President Freed stepping down at the end of the year.

October is Breast Cancer awareness month. Additional shirts have been ordered for those that do not have the navy breast cancer t-shirt. You can pick up your shirt at the union meeting and crews can wear the t-shirts from October 15-31. Reach out to Simpson if you need a shirt including your size, especially if you will not be able to make it to the union meeting.

Speaking of t-shirts, we will bring some of our older shirts to the union meeting for people to grab to wear off duty. Lots of different styles will be available first come, first served.

The Union Banquet is schedule for October 18th, 5pm at The Muckleshoot Casino. If you have not RSVP’d, please do so ASAP. Looking forward to a fun night with everyone.

Lastly, the negotiations team will have its first meeting with administration this Thursday, October 9th.

That’s all for now, see you October 14th at the Union Meeting and October 18th at the casino!

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Union Banquet

For the banquet, we’re asking everyone to come “dress casual.” That means collared shirts, nice pants or dark jeans, and shoes you wouldn’t wear to the station. For women, a blouse with slacks, skirt, or a casual dress works great. Comfortable but presentable — we’re celebrating, not drilling. Please avoid t-shirts, hoodies, or duty uniforms – unless you are on duty, of course.

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