 | | | Vince Wells, new CPF vice president Photo provided | | | | | | Vince Wells, president of the United Professional Firefighters of Contra Costa County, Local 1230, has been elected the 4th District vice president for the California Professional Firefighters organization. Wells took office Jan. 25.
CPF, the largest statewide organization dedicated exclusively to serving the needs of career firefighters, includes more than 175 local affiliates, representing some 30,000 front line firefighters and paramedics. CPF services include legislative work and advocacy on behalf of the fire service and are directed to members through the leadership of these local affiliates. The 4th District, one of eight in California, comprises the nine-county Bay Area.
An Air Force veteran with more than 20 years in the fire service, Wells has served for 11 years as Local 1230 president. In that role, he represents members from five different agencies, including the Moraga-Orinda Fire District and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. Wells, a ConFire captain, led firefighters from both Lamorinda fire districts though their recent labor negotiations.
CPF President Brian Rice noted that Wells has been an active and engaged participant in local and state issues on behalf of firefighters and all working people. "You become an advisor to a lot of fire agencies though the 1230 job," Wells said. "With that experience comes a lot of knowledge that I look forward to passing on to other fire agencies."
Wells said that continuing to secure local funding from state cap-and-trade revenue to advance wildfire protection will be a top goal in his new position. The cap-and-trade program, which began in 2012 and targets greenhouse gas reduction, has brought in billions of dollars of revenue to California. |
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA