(ST.LOUIS) African American firefighters want to send Jim Talent back to the United States Senate to fight for their interests. The Firefighters League for the Advancement for Minority Equalization (F.L.A.M.E.) today said they believe Jim Talent is the best person to represent the African American community whether its fire fighters, small businesses or community-based organizations.

 

“Although most of the membership of F.L.A.M.E. has been active in supporting Democrats, we believe that Jim Talent is deserving of our support for his accomplishments, not only for black firefighters, but for the African American community as a whole,” said Airest Wilson, President of F.L.A.M.E. “In the past, the black firefighters reached out to Claire McCaskill and her Auditor’s office and she did nothing. Jim Talent has always been accessible to us. We are endorsing Jim Talent because he has a history of championing causes that are important to the African American community such as providing funding for first responders, empowering minority-owned small businesses to compete for government contracts and providing health care access for patients with diseases that disproportionately impact minorities such as Sickle Cell Disease.”

 

F.L.A.M.E. is a group of African American firefighters and community activists with a mission to serve as a voice for the African American firefighter community in St. Louis County. F.L.A.M.E. has become champions in the area for African American firefighters and the community as a whole.

 

“I am proud to accept this important endorsement,” said Senator Jim Talent. “The African American firefighters not only help protect our people and property, they also believe as I do in empowering individuals to help create jobs and strengthen communities. The ideas for the legislation I’ve fought for have come from the community and from organizations like F.L.A.M.E. I’d like to continue championing issues that are important to the African American community. I’m asking voters who care about these issues to compare my record with my opponent’s and I believe they will conclude that I’m the only candidate in the race who has a record of effectiveness on issues that are important to the African American community.”

 

###