Spokeswoman: Fire chief won't leave

Ronnie Few says he has too much to do in Augusta, despite Washington's interest in him

Web posted May 9, 2000

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By Mark Mathis
Staff Writer

Despite interest from Washington officials as a potential candidate for fire chief, Augusta-Richmond County Fire Chief Ronnie Few is not going anywhere, the department's spokeswoman said Monday.

``D.C. has expressed interests, but Chief Few has no plans to leave,'' said Katrice Bryant, public information officer for the fire department. ``He says he has a lot to accomplish (in Augusta), and we've only just begun.''

A search committee in Washington has forwarded three names to Mayor Anthony Williams for the position, but they are confidential, said Jenna Mehnert, chief of staff for the city's deputy mayor of public safety and justice.

Ms. Mehnert would not confirm Chief Few's prior or current status as a candidate.

Chief Few, Augusta's top fire official since January 1997, was in town Monday at a training session, but he said he would not comment on Washington's interest in him, Ms. Bryant said.

Chief Few received criticism in 1999 after it was disclosed DeKalb County was interested in him heading their fire department, and Ms. Bryant said that prompted him not to release information about Washington's interest.

``Since it was such a negative response, this time he just decided to not even mention it because it's something he's not even considering,'' she said.

Chief Few was contacted about the job more than a month ago by Washington officials, but Ms. Bryant said she didn't know whether he was interviewed.

Ms. Bryant also said she didn't know what level of interest there was in Chief Few or what his current status is as a candidate.

The money the fire department will get from the proposed 1-cent special-purposes sales tax extension was another incentive for Chief Few to stay.

``He is happy here and is also pleased with the $23 million he received from the sales tax, and he wants to stay around and see it used the right way,'' Ms. Bryant said.

The money will be used to renovate, relocate and provide additional staffing for the county's 19 fire stations, Ms. Bryant said.

Reach Mark Mathis at (706) 823-3227.