Brockhouse Becomes Sole Council Member to Support Fire Union Propositions

Greg Brockhouse on Wednesday became the first city council member to endorse the fire union's three ballot propositions — another not-so-subtle hint he may be working up to a run against Mayor Ron Nirenberg.

"These are imperfect amendments presented at the perfect time," Brockhouse said during a press conference at the fire union's headquarters. The measures, he added, would force an important conversation about "rightsizing who's in control of city government."

The proposed amendments — of which Nirenberg has been the most vocal public critic — would lower the number of signatures required to force a referendum on city policies, freeze the next city manager's salary and kick the union's long-stymied contract talks into arbitration.

Brockhouse, who once consulted for the firefighters, said he disagrees with the 180 days the first proposition allows for collecting signatures and added that the second proposition's salary cap is likely too low. But such details could be ironed out later, he added.

The amendments are widely perceived as a slap at controversial City Manager Sheryl Sculley, city government's highest-paid official and a frequent target of Brockhouse's ire.

Although the District 6 councilman hasn't announced plans to run for mayor, he already appears to be the fire union's preferred candidate.

A recording circulated by the anti-amendment Go Vote No campaign captured union President Chris Steele telling firefighters the proposed amendments are about forcing an end to its contract dispute and helping "our own guy," Greg Brockhouse, win as mayor.

Even so, Brockhouse downplayed the validity of the recording and a separate one leaked earlier this week. He also remained coy about his future plans.

"Right now, I'm running to represent District 6," he said.

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