Joe Kerr (retired firefighter)
Joe Kerr | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | |
| Occupation | Retired Firefighter Captain |
| Years active | 34 Years |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Website | joekerrforcongress |
Joseph Kerr is a former firefighter captain who was a member of the Orange County Fire Authority from 1978 to 2012[1]. A member of the Democratic Party, Joe is running for the United States House of Representatives to represent California's 40th Congressional District and will be on the ballot on Election Day, November 5th, 2024[2].
Kerr served as a Fire Captain for the Orange County Fire Authority from 34 years from Jan 13, 1978 to March 23, 2012. He was also elected as the first president of the Orange County Professional Firefighter's Association, a position that he held for 17 years. Other positions include vice president of California Professional Firefighters, vice president of the Orange County Central Labor Council (AFL-CIO), and vice chair of the Regional Water Quality Control Board[3].
Early Life
[edit]Kerr was born in Port Jervis, New York to James Kerr and Rosemarie Kerr. As a young man, Kerr was part of the Republican Party. However, later switched his party preference to the Democratic Party.
Early Career
[edit]
Kerr served as a second-generation firefighter, serving as Fire Captain for both the Orange County Fire Authority along with the Orange County Fire Department. During his time as a firefighter, Joe held a wide variety of specialty positions such as: Fire Academy Coordinator, Fire Academy Instructor, Strategic Planner, Fire Information Officer, Public Education Officer, Wildland Fire Defense Planner, Prescription Burn Boss, and Vegetation Management (Fuels) Officer.
He also served as a union leader, becoming the first president of the Orange County Professional Firefighters Association, also known as IAFF 3631. He was also the Vice President of the California Professional Firefighters. In addition, he was also the Southern Director for the California State Firefighters Association, and a former Vice President of the Orange County Central Labor Council (AFL-CIO). He was appointed by the General President of the International Association of Firefighters to serve as the 10th District Field Service Representative (DFSR), a district that represents professional firefighters and paramedics in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Hawaii[1].
In 2003, Governor Gray Davis appointed Kerr to the California Workforce Development Board of Directors, acting as an advisor to the governor on the issues relating to California workers up. In 2018, he was appointed by Governor Gavin Newson to California Regional Water Quality Control Board Region 8, responsible for enforcing the Clean Water Act in three counties with a total population of 8,000,000 people, where he served as Vice Chair until he stepped down in 2022. [4]
Awards and Achievements
[edit]In 1981, following Kerr's response to an Air California jetliner crash at John Wayne Airport, the Orange County Board of Supervisors awards him with a Certificate of Merit. He was awarded with the Courage Under Fire Awards by the Orange County Fire Authority in 1984, after reviving a non-breathing occupant trapped under a residential structure fire. After retirement, in 2012, he was awarded with various awards for helping save the life of a 11-month old baby girl trapped, who had drowned and stopped breathing in a backyard swimming pool. [1]
| Year | Award | Received By |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Fireman of the Year | Cypress Fire Department |
| 1981 | Certificate of Merit | Orange County Board of Supervisors |
| 1984 | Overachiever of the Year | Orange County Firemen’s Association |
| 1986 | Fire Captain of the Year | Orange County Fire Department |
| 1999 | Courage Under Fire Award | Orange County Fire Department (reconfirm) |
Electoral History
[edit]2024 California's 40th Congressional District election
[edit]| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Young Kim | 109,963 | 56.4 | |
| Democratic | Joe Kerr | 49,965 | 25.6 | |
| Democratic | Allyson Muñiz Damikolas | 35,153 | 18.0 | |
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Young Kim | |||
| Democratic | Joe Kerr | |||
2022 California State Senate election
[edit]| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Matt Gunderson | 74,260 | 45.4 | |
| Democratic | Catherine Blakespear | 71,263 | 43.6 | |
| Democratic | Joe Kerr | 18,059 | 11.0 | |
| Total votes | 163,582 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Catherine Blakespear | 188,166 | 52.2 | |
| Republican | Matt Gunderson | 172,534 | 47.8 | |
| Total votes | 360,700 | 100.0 | ||
2018 Orange County Board of Supervisors District 4
[edit]| Primary election | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Tim Shaw | 18,171 | 20.6 | |
| Doug Chaffee | 18,093 | 20.5 | |
| Joe Kerr | 17,717 | 20.1 | |
| Lucille Kring | 15,347 | 17.4 | |
| Rose Espinoza | 10,397 | 11.8 | |
| Cynthia Aguirre | 8,419 | 9.6 | |
| Runoff election | |||
| Doug Chaffee | 76,859 | 50.4 | |
| Tim Shaw | 75,537 | 49.6 | |
Personal Life
[edit]Kerr is married to China Kerr, with whom has one son, Joey Kerr who was conceived through IVF (in vitro fertilization). [1]
- ^ a b c d "Meet Joe". Joe Kerr for Congress. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
- ^ "Joe Kerr". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
- ^ "Meet Joe". Joe Kerr for Congress. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
- ^ "Retired Calif. fire captain announces run for Congress". FireRescue1. 2023-06-01. Retrieved 2024-07-26.