New Rochelle City officials are investigating a complaint that on-duty firefighters were distributing campaign literature on behalf of a candidate for City Council.
City Manager Charles Strome III said, “We received the complaint and we are investigating accordingly.”
Roberto Lopez, a candidate for City Council District 1 who is running against the incumbent, Lou Trangucci, filed the complaint. In it, Lopez said on Oct. 29 a group of firefighters responded to an emergency call at Garito Manor, an assisted-living apartment building in the city’s West End. According to the complaint, when it was determined that a resident who had fallen did not need further medical treatment, several of the firefighters left the building. Two stayed behind and, in full uniform, began placing campaign literature for Trangucci at the door of residents’ apartments.
“City employees, especially those on duty, and especially first responders, have no business being involved in political campaigning,” Lopez said in a statement.
Trangucci said, “I have no idea about it. No comment.” He went on to say that he had been endorsed by a local firefighters’ union and that the union’s members only campaign for him on their own time.
