SECRETARY-TREASURER’S DESK | MIKE LOPEZ
We Are All Fiduciaries
In today’s society, with misinformation and finger-pointing occurring at all levels, your secretary-treasurer must speak only in black and white, prioritizing transparency versus politics, both internal and external, for the sake of all. I am proud of the work and time I’ve invested in increasing the transparency and accessibility of my office over the past eight years.
At this year’s CPF Convention, delegates voted on dozens of resolutions that will guide the next two years for our union. Along with that crucial work, the delegates also had the opportunity to elect new officers to represent you at the state level. I want to congratulate our new CPF President, Darrell Roberts; District 1 Vice President Dave Prietto; District 3 Vice President Ross Pounds; our new Trustee, Kevin Fugate; and all the returning executive board members. It is imperative that we as your executive board carry out the mission from convention, set forward by the members.
During these last eight years, I’ve had the honor to work on four conventions with our staff. The employees of CPF and our affiliate businesses dedicate long hours to ensure our conventions exemplify the best that our members deserve. With all the resolutions, the tributes to President Emeritus Brian Rice, and the election of new officers, the staff worked late nights and weekends in the lead-up to and during the convention. I can’t thank our staff enough for everything they do for our members and their families.
For my fifth term, my goal is simple: to uphold financial stability for the organization, remain steadfast in my commitment to transparency, and ensure the union is secure for generations to come. The future of our union is bright, and I’d like to keep working towards securing the financial stability of the organization for the next generations of leadership to grow upon.
The office of secretary-treasurer is vital to the sustainability of our union. Anyone running for this position must be motivated to report finances at all levels and remember that every time we spend members’ money, we need to be able to say what that money was spent on, who participated in it, and how it helps serve our mission.
For locals of every size, from those with a handful of members to those with hundreds or thousands, the secretary-treasurer must report finances without prejudice. Checks and balances on how our organizations spend their money are vital for accuracy and transparency so that the secretary-treasurer can report finances on a regular basis.
When President Emeritus Rice and I were running for our positions eight years ago, our motto was “we work from the bottom up.” I am proud that, together, we held to that motto and reached as many members as we could through station visits, local political activism, and on-the-ground work to hear directly from members about the issues impacting them most.
We knew that the only way we could understand what the members are dealing with is to sit with them at the kitchen table. Each of these trips brought us new ideas for policies and legislation that we used to build an action plan at the State Capitol. Your ideas, concerns, and suggestions have been the foundation of the policies and legislation that we accomplished over the past eight years.
President Roberts and I are committed to getting out into the field and staying true to the foundational work of the CPF. I am happy to share that the transition between the previous executive board and onboarding our new board members and President Roberts has been seamless. I look forward to being on the ground with President Roberts, visiting even more locals, and reaching all members – local, state, and federal firefighters. CPF's mission will always be to enhance our members' future.