County chose wisely with Smith

The Union-Recorder

January 08, 2008 03:41 pm

— Baldwin County Manager Joan Minton’s announcement that William “Tommy” Smith would move into the department’s chief post and lead Baldwin Fire and Rescue Services is great news for the agency and for our community.
Smith, a 34-plus-year veteran firefighter, had served as interim chief since former Chief Jerry “Smokey” Veal retired Dec. 7 after nearly 40 years with the department. For 26 years — the past 18 as assistant fire chief — Smith worked with Veal, who clearly prepared his No. 2 person well for the challenges he now faces in the top job.
Under Veal’s leadership, Baldwin Fire and Rescue Services saw incredible change and growth in our county, and Smith was there to experience most of what has shaped the department into the fine agency it is today.
While Minton and Baldwin officials mounted a search for Veal’s successor that drew several qualified applicants, we can think of no one more fitting than Smith to lead the agency with which he’s served for nearly 30 years.
His resume speaks for itself.
In more than three decades fighting fires, he has earned certification to serve as a fire chief, fire inspector, firefighter, hazardous materials technician, training officer, and apparatus engineer. He also holds an associate’s degree in fire science management. Smith worked for eight years at Central State Hospital Fire Department before Baldwin County hired him as a shift captain in 1981.
And it is experience like Smith’s on which Minton based her decision.
“Chief Smith has the qualifications, experience and training to continue to move the Baldwin County Fire and Rescue Service forward,” she said Friday.
In his new job, Smith will supervise about 34 full-time employees, including an administrative secretary and 60 to 70 volunteer firefighters at eight stations throughout the county.
We know that no matter who is in the chief’s job it’s impossible to please everyone, but from what Baldwin’s rank and file say, Smith already commands the respect he’ll need from his firefighters.
In his first days at the helm, he has shown that he’ll be a prudent leader in vowing to make only “subtle changes” until he takes time to evaluate in the department from the top. “I do have things in mind to improve on in the department and will begin to make changes next month,” Smith told The Union-Recorder in an interview after his promotion was announced.
We applaud Minton for her swift search and for looking inside the ranks of a growing agency that provides critical services for our residents. Baldwin Fire and Rescue Services deserves the best-qualified chief it can find, and we agree that Smith is that person.