County Executive Marc Elrich withdrew his support for Charles Bailey Tuesday telling MCM that there was “not enough support” among the 11-member County Council.
Division Chief Charles Bailey was nominated by Elrich in November to lead the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS).
He would have become the county’s first Black fire chief.
A County spokesperson sent this statement to MCM on behalf of Elrich, “Following consultation with members of the County Council, a pathway forward for the nomination of Division Chief Charles Bailey as Chief of the Montgomery Fire and Rescue Services was not deemed feasible.
He appreciates Division Chief Bailey’s decades of service to the residents of Montgomery County and continued commitment to MCFRS.
Moving forward, the County Executive is currently evaluating alternative candidates to nominate as MCFRS Chief. We will provide notice to the public when a nomination letter for this position is submitted to the County Council.”
Last week Bailey made media appearances and welcomed hundreds of fire chiefs and officials at an annual training seminar.
Over his 30-year career with MCFRS, Bailey has been a paramedic, in charge of the hazmat team, and a shift commander — among other positions — before becoming division chief of operations. He also led the fire department’s COVID-19 response.
The fire chief job was vacated after former MCFRS Chief Scott Goldstein retired from the position in summer 2023.
