Hood must answer for irresponsible actions

We’re still left scratching our heads following Houston Fire Chief Thomas L. Hood’s admission he lied about distributing misleading fliers against a ballot proposition to merge the Meadow Lakes and Big Lake fire departments.

When the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman began receiving calls and visits about the flier, and we heard that Hood was observed putting them in area mailboxes, we looked into it. In the interest of fairness, of course we deemed it highly important to ask Hood directly, who denied any involvement in producing or distributing the flier.

“I didn’t put fliers in any mailbox,” he said.

The fire chief came clean in a letter dated Oct. 2, where he admits to Houston Mayor Sandy McDonald and the city council he did distribute the fliers. In the letter, he expresses regret for making “some awkward public comments in the Frontiersman diminishing my limited role distributing the fliers.”

He goes on to express “regrets for any off the cuff incorrect comments I made.”

If by “awkward” and “off the cuff” Hood means he lied, we agree, although with disappointment. He told reporter Michael Rovito in a follow-up story in today’s edition that he has “a right to my opinion,” and that, “I didn’t know it was illegal to put fliers in the mailbox.”

Forgive us if we question the fire chief who’s already cried “wolf.” As one who is familiar with working for a public organization like a city, Hood also was once a candidate for the Mat-Su Borough Assembly for District 7. We find it difficult to believe someone who has experience as a political candidate would be unfamiliar with the rules associated with distributing information — including fliers — relating to election issues.

The flier itself brings up another question. It is riddled with errors and has been called a personal attack on Hood’s counterpart in Big Lake, Fire Chief Bill Gamble. That Hood would distribute a flier that he must have known (or could have easily discovered) was spreading misinformation is another real concern.

Because Hood says he made a promise to officials with the city of Houston and local fire service boards to stay neutral on the merger proposition, he felt admitting he distributed the fliers would “appear that I was opposed to the merger and that would have upset supporters of the merger.”

Now not only is Hood’s personal opposition to the merger a public issue, his dishonesty in fessing up to his mistake has caused embarrassment for the city he works for.

We teach our children to have a special respect for those who serve their country and communities. Soldiers, law enforcement officers and firefighters perform heroic and noble services that make us all proud. Their examples of service above self are inspiring and a high standard we hope serves as valuable role models for our children.

When an experienced firefighter and administrator like Hood takes part in a torpedo campaign to satisfy his personal beliefs without regard for his public position — and then lies about it to the public — he owes an apology to more than his bosses in an effort to save his job.