Congratulations to Lynn Washburn-Livingston, Rockford, Ill. firefighter who has been promoted to fire chief for the Davenport Fire Department. She is the first woman to head the department and will take the helm on Oct. 3. 
Of three candidates, Washburn-Livingston was chosen as the most experienced. She is a 29-year veteran firefighter. Davenport City Administrator, Craig Malin, said her gender is “inconsequential” to her hiring process, according to the story by the Quad-City Times.
“I am going to go in with the assumption that it isn’t a problem,” she said. “There may be some challenges, but it depends on how you handle the challenges whether they become problems.
She added that she’s been “working to become a chief,” and that it was “her goal.”
Also according to the Quad-City Times, she holds a bachelor’s degree in music education and an associate degree in fire science and serves as an adjunct instructor in fire science at Rock Valley College in Rockford.
Naturally, people are weary of the new selection. Some were concerned about hiring someone from outside of Davenport (she is reportedly the first person Davenport has ever hired for fire chief who wasn’t from the Quad-Cities). And of course, some people are making lousy comments.
A Quadsville member on the Quad-City Times website commented, “I mean no disrespect but she’s certainly not a girly girl. At least she won’t be late cause she’s fooling with her hair or makeup!!”
This, of course, was absolutely disrespectful. Whenever anyone prefaces a comment with “I mean no disrespect,” or “I don’t want to sound racist…” you can usually count on the comment being totally racist or disrespectful. Such is the case.
The Quad-City Times has since removed the user’s comment, although another user pointed out, “Why do we have to mention that she’s a woman?” Good point. Why are we pointing out her gender? It hasn’t held her back thus far, why should we mention it now?
She joins many female firefighters who are outnumbered by men, but also who get just as much respect in the firehouse as the others (for the most part). Check out my interview and profile of two female firefighters in Iowa City - one who has experienced a great deal of discrimination during her early years in the late 70s and 1980s.
Regardless, best of luck to her and all her endeavors. She clearly deserves the promotion and has worked hard to get here. Way to go, Lynn!
