Taking the Least Worst Option
Credit: Facebook/Jim Lee
In a stunning indication of waning influence and power, Harold Schaitberger, IAFF General President, has chosen Jim Lee as his next chief of staff, as suggested here, a month ago.
Jim Lee’s dropping out of the 2016 race for General Secretary Treasurer (GST) and his appointment to the staff role is a shocking come-down from Schaitberger’s handling of the last GST vacancy when he snookered the board.
Take It Or Leave It
Few know that in 2009, Schaitberger hectored GST Vincent Bollon into early retirement, and then personally hand-picked Bollon’s successor, Tom Miller.
How he pulled it off proves his cunning and his disloyalty to the IAFF Board.
First, Schaitberger needed Bollon to retire during his term so that the interim replacement would be chosen from the executive board, a group he could easily control.
Schaitberger kept Bollon’s retirement decision secret from the full board as he approached some of them individually to seek out their support for his coup.
When he had a majority of committed votes, he announced the retirement, and the replacement as a “take it or leave it” done-deal to the remainder of the board.
Danny Todd was particularly furious.
How’s that for teamwork?
Controlling the Board
Schaitberger
In fact, as IAFF president, Schaitberger has had a nearly perfect record up till now in deciding either who would stay on the board or who would be the replacement.
He betrayed Louie Wright and ousted Joe Conway.
He drug Bill Taylor across the finish line and got rid of Paul Harvey.
He ensured that Ray Rahne beat Rocky Haines.
He coaxed Dominick Barbera to leave in favor of Larry Osborne.
And convinced Paul Hufnagel to run.
In the Schaitberger IAFF, this is our idea of representative democracy.
The 2016 GST Race
Jim Lee became a candidate because Schaitberger convinced him to do it.
Then, Schaitberger allowed him to twist in the wind as Ed Kelly, rather effortlessly, elbowed to the front.
Lee may be enjoying a golden parachute but Schaitberger can’t be happy about the prospect of Edzo Kelly being upstairs at the IAFF looking over his expense forms.
Would Kelly Fox be more palatable?
Could Schaitberger help Fox or would Fox even want it, given the price he would have to pay?
Ironically, had Schaitberger not engaged in the Bollon/Miller shenanigans, there is a good chance Fox would be the current GST.
It Worked Once…
Tom Miller should get the brakes checked on that little scooter of his and have it guarded 24/7.
After all, moving a sitting GST out mid-term worked once.
Why not one more time?
Perhaps Vice President McGhee could slide right in to the GST role were it to be suddenly vacant.
But, would the IAFF board fall for the same trick twice?
As they say, “First time shame on you…”