La Marque picks new fire chief

LA MARQUE — A 15-year firefighting veteran from Florida will be the new fire chief in La Marque.

Todd Weidman, the a battalion chief in Osceola County, takes over five months after former Chief Larry Damrell quit amid an internal investigation into complaints of boorish and unprofessional behavior.

City Manager Carol Buttler, making her first major hire since being named city manager in the fall, announced Weidman’s hire Monday. She said the new chief is scheduled to start next week.

“Not only will Todd bring leadership qualities to the fire department, he (also) will bring the public service philosophy and the community education approach that the city is seeking,” Buttler said in a news statement.

Weidman, 40, had been with the Osceola County Fire Rescue and Emergency Medical Services in Kissimmee, Fla., since 1996. He held positions as a firefighter, engineer, and lieutenant. Weidman was promoted to battalion chief in 2007.

He also had been an adjunct professor in the fire science department for the Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, Ala., since 2009.

Weidman was the top pick from among three finalists Buttler and a select committee interviewed for the job. The search for the new chief took about three months, Buttler said.

The committee included La Marque Fire Department Capt. Luis Gonzalez, engineer Curtis Barber, police Chief Randall Aragon and the city’s head of human resources Robert Beagan.

After a series of interviews with candidates, the committee recommended the top three to Buttler, who made the decision to hire Weidman.

Robert Wirtz, a battalion chief in Aurora, Ill., and Orin Snodgrass, the deputy chief for the Byron, Ill. fire department, also were finalists for the job. Wirtz withdrew his name from consideration Buttler said.

Alfred Decker, who had been interim chief since Damrell’s resignation in September, will return to his captain’s position, Buttler said.

Weidman will be paid $68,000 a year plus city benefits, Buttler said.

He is the third fire chief in the city since 2010. Damrell was hired by former City Manager Eric Gage after Todd Zacherl walked off the job amid strife between the fire department and Gage’s office.

In November, Zacherl filed a lawsuit against the city.