Anne Arundel Fire Chief David Stokes announced Thursday that he will step down after 35 years with the department, paving the way for Deputy Fire Chief John Robert Ray as the county’s next fire chief.
“This is a very hard day, I?ve been married to the fire department for 30 years,” Stokes said, recalling his first job with the department at the age of 17 when he worked in the fire apparatus repair shop.
“I feel like I?m going through a divorce of some type, but it?s in mine and my family?s best interest to leave.”
County Executive John Leopold praised Stokes, 51, for his fiscal responsibility and for developing partnerships between career and volunteer firefighters.
Stokes said he?s looking forward to retirement, but will stay on as chief until October 1 to ensure a smooth transition.
Stokes said Ray?s biggest challenge could be the county?s impending economic constraints.
“The money is going to get tight,” he said, adding that cuts may have to be made to major fire equipment purchases, overtime hours and fuel consumption.
Ray, who has brings more than 30 years of service to his new job as chief, is the former head of the county’s Department of Inspections and Permits in 2002.
“There will be some tough decisions to make in public safety and everyone is going to have to take a bit of a hit… without affecting people?s safety,” Ray said. The department serves more than 500,000 people who live and work in Anne Arundel.
Ray said he hopes to uphold the partnership that Stokes developed between volunteer firefighters and the union, which relieves taxpayers of overtime costs and provides career firefighters with backup support.
The Fiscal Year 2008 budget began July 1, he said, and it?s too soon to tell what cuts will be made to next year?s budget.
“I feel like I?m a very lucky guy at this point,” he said.
“This has been a dream of mine for a very long time and it?s finally come true.”
