HUNTINGTON BEACH : Mays Explains ‘No’ Vote on Paramedics

Huntington Beach Mayor Thomas J. Mays, a candidate for the state Assembly, boasts in a recent campaign mailer that his support for senior citizens is demonstrated by the city’s creation of a special, low-cost paramedic service.

“This is the kind of program we need at the state level,” Mays says in his brochure.

The problem is, Mays voted against the plan when it came before the City Council in January. It passed on a 4-3 vote.

Mays said in an interview this week that he now supports the so-called FIREMED program. Mays said he voted against it because he feared the program would cost the city too much money.

The program’s promise of low-cost emergency medical service is based on the level of participation, and Mays said he was skeptical about the prospects.

Under the program, participants are promised unlimited paramedic and ambulance service for $36 per year.

“The city was taking a big risk,” Mays said. Now, “we’re actually getting more participation than we expected (and) I no longer have that concern.”

Mays defended his decision to use the program in his campaign literature because it is something that he would propose in the Assembly.

“I didn’t claim that I voted for it or I had anything to do with it,” he said. “I just said this is a program that could be looked at at the state level.”

Mays is running against four other Republicans in the 58th Assembly District primary. The district includes the cities of Huntington Beach, Seal Beach and Long Beach.