IAFF
Frank Lima Elected IAFF General Secretary-Treasurer
For the first time since the late 1990s, a Californian has been elected to serve in the national leadership of the International Association of Fire Fighters.
In a month-long mail-in vote, IAFF 10th District Vice President Frank Lima won election as IAFF General Secretary-Treasurer — the second highest-ranking elected official with the IAFF. Running on a theme of “Unite, Fight and Organize,” Lima won with approximately 70 percent of the vote in the three-person race for General Secretary-Treasurer.
His predecessor, Edward “Edzo” Kelly, also won election as IAFF General President, succeeding longtime General President Harold Schaitberger.
“I’m humbled by the trust so many of our brothers and sisters have placed in me across the two great nations in the IAFF,” said Lima. “I’m committed to working with General President Kelly and our great IAFF Executive Board to unite around a shared vision that puts our firefighters and families first.”
A 29-year fire service veteran, General Secretary Treasurer Lima served as president of United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112 and as a member of the California Professional Firefighters’ Executive Board. During his time as Local 112 president, Lima negotiated pay parity with LAPD officers and spearheaded efforts to protect the health and safety of his members. Lima is a strong believer in organized labor and still serves as a vice president on the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor AFL-CIO. He also continues to serve on the California Board of Fire Services after appointments from both Governors Brown and Newsom, alongside CPF President Emeritus Terry, CPF President Rice, and CPF 7th District Vice President Gillotte.
As IAFF 10th District Vice President, Lima represented California, New Mexico, Arizona, Hawaii and Guam on the IAFF board, organizing new affiliates and working to build connections among IAFF affiliates as well as with the larger labor movement. As a former president of a large local, Lima stressed his understanding of the fiscal responsibilities associated with the role of general secretary-treasurer. He also stressed the need for a unified and active voice on behalf of firefighters, particularly those in right-to-work states.
“Frank has been a fighter for his members and all of California’s firefighters, whether it was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our brothers and sisters on the wildfire lines or advocating for our issues with the IAFF,” said CPF President Brian K. Rice. “We’re proud of Frank and believe he will be an important and forceful voice for all IAFF members, including our CPF members here in California.”
“I’m very proud of the support I have gotten from our California brothers and sisters, both as 10th District Vice President and now as General Secretary-Treasurer,” Lima said. I’m also deeply honored by the steadfast support of Local 112 - my home local — which has stood up for me at every turn.”
Lima is only the second Californian to ever serve as IAFF General Secretary-Treasurer. Legendary IAFF General President Emeritus Alfred K. Whitehead served two years as IAFF General Secretary-Treasurer from 1986 to 1988, before his election as IAFF General President in 1988. Whitehead’s 1998 reelection to his sixth term as general president was the last time a Californian won a national IAFF election.