The campaign for Fire District 43 commissioner Position No. 3 between Jeff Granlund and Camille Walls has taken a few twists and turns, but the race is heating up now with less than two weeks to election day.

The 44-year-old Granlund had served as commissioner on the fire board from 1998 until August, when he resigned his seat in protest when the other two commissioners, Brain McGee and Mike Scott, voted to end former Chief Tim Lemon’s contract.

“I resigned to make a statement about Chief Lemon,” Granlund said.

There was a question following the resignation whether Granlund would take the seat if he was elected. His name was slated to be on the ballot before the resignation. Granlund said he has been contacted by “a couple of hundred people asking me to get back in there. That was really the push, comments from all the citizens.”

He said he is running because, “I want the citizens to regain control of the fire department. I want our department to be transparent.”

Granlund said they “let Chief Lemon go because they wanted to go in a different direction. Maybe we need to look at the whole department and look at what is in the best interest of the fire department and people.”

Walls said she has worked in fire service for 30 years at the Renton Fire Department and she is preparing to retire.

“I thought it was time to give back to my community,” Walls said. “Being at retirement age I look at things differently. It is an all-male board now and I think women look at things differently.”

Walls, 63, said she has lived in Maple Valley for 36 years.

Concerning the issue of Lemon’s contract, Walls said, “I think I can help calm the waters a little bit.”

Walls said she is a fire inspector for Renton.

“I have the background to do this,” Walls said. “I’m honest.”

Support from the firefighters union has been an issue in the race.

When Grandlund first ran in 1998 he said the union supported him. Now he said he is considered a “pro-administration guy. I’m not pro administration. I’m pro citizen.”

Granlund said he feels the union “solicited and endorsed” Walls to run against him.

Walls said she is getting support from the union.

“I talked to some of the guys from the union when I first got involved. I’m all for employees and employers,” she said. “The guys know I’m there to support their side (the union) and to support the administration. I think the reason I’m getting support is honesty. I have no hidden agenda.”

Walls said Granlund’s resignation “does not show stick-to-it-ness. You have to stick to things through thick and thin.”

Granlund stated, “I resigned to take a stand.”