If you drive south on I-5 toward State Street, it’s always hard to miss the messages on the billboard of the Bellingham Fire Fighters union.

Recently, they’ve plastered up the names of candidates they endorse, including Whatcom County Council At-Large candidate Laurie Caskey-Schreiber, Bellingham City Council Ward 6 candidate Michael Lilliquist and Port of Bellingham Commission candidate Michael McAuley for District 2.

Absent, from the list, is the other port challenger, John Blethen. Instead, incumbent Commissioner Scott Walker is being endorsed by the firefighters to retain his District 1 seat.

I called union President Rob Wilson yesterday to find out why.

Walker

The firefighters at the airport are also not part of the state’s Law Enforcement Officers and Fire Fighters Plan II retirement system. The local union is trying to change that.

So did Walker say he’d fight for that change, too? Not exactly, Wilson said.

“He didn’t say he would totally support, but that he would definitely listen to our arguments and he would go ahead and weigh the facts and make his decision based on what he thought was good for the port and employees,” Wilson said. “Did he give us a direct answer of support? No. But what we want and we expect in our candidates is that they at least give us access to them and an ear.”

Despite no endorsement for Blethen, Wilson praised the challenger, too, saying he was a good candidate and also “viable” but that Walker had more experience and a better understanding of firefighter issues.