This story was updated at 10:45 a.m. to include a Monday comment from the mayor about Assistant Chief Marquardt.
While expected to make the final decision next week, Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz on Tuesday identified three candidates being considered to lead the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department.
Mayor Kapszukiewicz identified the internal candidates for the fire chief position as Assistant Chief Karen Marquardt, Battalion Chief David Hitt, and Battalion Chief Brian Byrd. One will replace retiring Fire Chief Luis Santiago, who will remain in his position until the first week of August.
Tuesday was the first time the mayor provided a list of candidates. He said he expects to make his decision next week so the incoming chief can have time on the job with Chief Santiago.
“Each one of these candidates has different strengths and weaknesses,” he said. “All three of them have decades of experience in the fire service. I truly believe any one of them would make an excellent chief.”
Mayor Kapszukiewicz added his decision will largely come down to the question of whether to keep someone from the current administrative team or bring in a “fresh voice that may take the department in a new direction.” The mayor said he did not request resumes from the candidates. He described the interview process as informal.
The mayor said he’s also looking at how well he gets along with each candidate, each candidate’s leadership style, and their plans to increase diversity within the department.
Diversity numbers of the department were not immediately available Tuesday afternoon.
The mayor has met with Battalion Chief Hitt and Assistant Chief Marquardt. He will meet with Battalion Chief Byrd Wednesday.
Assistant Chief Marquardt joined the department in 1996. She was named the department’s first female assistant chief in May, 2014.
She oversees the department’s training bureau, the bureau of professional standards, and administrative services. Additionally, she works closely with the fire chief in department planning, and she’s in charge while Chief Santiago is away or unavailable. She makes $115,980 a year.
“In general, Karen’s greatest strength is experience and continuity,” Mayor Kapszukiewicz said. “She’s part of the upper management team right now.”
Chief Santiago selected Assistant Chief Marquardt for her current role. This past spring, he told The Blade that Assistant Chief Marquardt would make a “very good chief” and she is “very well equipped” to take over the position whenever he plans to retire.
On Tuesday, Mayor Kapszukiewicz said he has known Assistant Chief Marquardt for nearly 20 years.
“I’ve always been impressed by her. There’s no question she would make a wonderful chief,” he said.
While Assistant Chief Marquardt would “represent a continuation” of Chief Santiago’s policies, the mayor said he believes she would be an independent thinker.
The other two candidates — battalion chiefs Byrd and Hitt, who are both African-American men — make $102,648 a year.
Battalion Chief Hitt, who joined the department in 1984, has served in his current position since 2008. He has played a role in the recruitment process, which may benefit the department during a time when diversity of the force is an issue, Mayor Kapszukiewicz said.
Battalion Chief Hitt, who served as captain of training and while in that role was the the department’s program director for the state of Ohio’s training charter, has helped recruit, train, and mentor incoming firefighters.
Battalion Chief Byrd, who will be interviewed by the mayor Wednesday, is “well respected” at the fire department, Mayor Kapszukiewicz said.
Battalion Chief Byrd has served on the department since 1988. He was promoted to battalion chief in 2000. He previously served as a deputy chief but took a self-demotion to battalion chief in May, 2016, according to the department.
He has served as a member of the Department of Homeland Security — Emergency Medical Services Subcommittee and Ohio EMS Board Medical Transportation Committee and Critical Care Subcommittee. He also serves as the Lucas County coordinator for the Ohio Fire Chiefs’ Emergency Response Plan.
“He’s someone who’s really involved in his community. That’s important,” the mayor said.
Through conversations with firefighters, business owners, and community members, the mayor said some people think “a new voice would be healthy,” while “there are some people who think things don’t need to change at all.”
Mayor Kapszukiewicz said he is listening to both opinions as he tries to make the decision. He said Local 92 — the department firefighters’ union — has not played a factor in the decision.
“I haven’t asked Local 92’s opinion on any of these three finalists, nor do I plan to,” the mayor said.
Chief Santiago’s relations with Local 92 at times were strained. In May, 2015, union members overwhelming supported a vote of no confidence in the chief.
Local 92 leaders have previously said they will support whoever the mayor selects.
Contact Allison Dunn at adunn@theblade.com, 419-724-6506, or on Twitter @AllisonDBlade.
First Published July 18, 2018, 1:11 a.m.
