Lima to Kelly — Take a Hike
Or just Schaitberger appreciation day?
In 1988, IAFF secretary treasurer Al Whitehead was elected president after defeating Jack Gannon with some inside help from Harold Schaitberger.
When Whitehead “moved upstairs” he didn’t take his secretary with him, far from it, it is reported that she was summarily walked out the door of the IAFF, her career seemingly over.
But not so fast — as it turned out, incoming secretary treasurer Vincent Bollon, in need of experienced help, had other ideas.
That same secretary was walked right back in by Bollon and enjoyed a long tenure, we can assume to the consternation of both Whitehead and Schaitberger.
Frank Lima, secretary treasurer elect, effectively repeated Bollon’s 1988 move by retaining the one person in the IAFF who is closer to the exiting Harold Schaitberger than anyone else, his assistant Teresa Valenzuela.
As we have said before, there are no new tricks at the IAFF, just new magicians.
It is reported IAFF president-elect Ed Kelly had said not to retain Schaitberger appointees.
So much for that idea.
To make matters worse for Kelly, Lima has also retained Jim Brinkley, another Schaitberger acolyte, as his chief of staff.
This news is leavened somewhat as Kelly is keeping Matt Vinci as his chief of staff; apparently the “no Schaitberger holdover” rule does not apply to him.
Has Frank Lima wiggled out of Kelly’s passionate embrace?
And are other motives in play?
Kelly won his race against a rather unknown opponent by just 32,000 votes.
Lima won against two opponents by nearly 100,000, a landslide by any measure.
Anyone who thinks Schaitberger didn’t seriously blunt Kelly or accelerate Lima is the textbook example of a babe-in-arms.
Perhaps Frank is just paying the bills as they come due.
And anyone who knows Schaitberger knows he never comes cheap.
The big bill?
Protecting the IAFF Financial Corp, Schaitberger’s super-secret boondoggle masquerading as a member benefit.
There will be many shoes to drop on that assignment and we can wonder if Frank is up to the task of taking care of Harold and his friends as that house of cards teeters in a brisk wind.
Stay well and stay tuned.
