An East Torresdale resident and 38-year veteran of the department will take over as president.
Philadelphia Fire Department veteran Ed Marks, an East Torresdale resident, has been elected president of International Association of Fire Fighters and Paramedics Local 22.
Marks, who served 38 years in the department, defeated incumbent Andrew Thomas and another candidate in the election.
In a vote of active and retired firefighters and paramedics, Marks received 1,297 votes. Rich Lewandowski was second with 567 votes. Thomas took 477 votes.
“During the past four years as a board member of Local 22, we have accomplished quite a lot together,” Marks said. “Now, with a relatively new city and fire administration, I look forward to working with the newly elected board members to continue our progress. I also want to thank all those members who placed their faith in me with their vote. I won’t let them down.”
In his career, Marks served as a firefighter, lieutenant, captain and battalion chief, retiring four years ago. He was deputy director of the Fire Training Academy.
Before being elected union president, he was a trustee and 1st vice president. He also was selected as a member of Mayor Jim Kenney’s transition team to address issues of public safety.
Thomas served just one two-year term, succeeding Joe Schulle, who did not run for a second term. Schulle was elected by beating incumbent Bill Gault.
In other contested elections, Chuck McQuilkin defeated Tom Verros and Tony Hudgins for vice president. Jack Eltman beat Mike Conroy to remain recording secretary.
The following candidates were unopposed: Mike Bresnan (1st vice president); Dan Oakes (treasurer); Diane Pellecchia (chairman trustee); Ray Vozzelli and Tommy McKiernan (trustees); Walt Faber and Sean Sullivan (sergeants at arms); and Marc Bofinger, Mary Kohler and Corey Hillings (home association directors)
Marks is married with two adult daughters, both of whom are members of the Philadelphia Police Department.
All officers were scheduled to be formally sworn in at the June 6 union meeting. They’ll officially take office July 1.
Marks and his fellow officers chose to be sworn in by John J. “Moon” Reilly, who served as union president from 1977–78. Reilly, 85, retired from the fire department in 1988, but has continued to work in various capacities at the union hall.
“Moon has been a part of this union for 61 years. We’ve undergone so many changes lately — new mayor, new fire commissioner, a brand new union hall being constructed. We felt it was important to hang onto and honor our past. Moon is the union’s historian, the man with all the institutional knowledge. Having Moon swear us in means a lot, to us and him,” Marks said. ••
