Shreveport (La.) Chief Kelvin Cochran resigned from the International Association of Fire Chiefs executive committee following his appointment as fire chief for the city of Atlanta. Chief Larry Grorud, second vice president from Janesville, Wis., assumed the position of first vice president immediately and in a session Monday evening, the IAFC board of directors appointed Chief Jeff Johnson, fire chief and chief executive officer of Tualatin Valley (Ore.) Fire & Rescue, to the position of second vice president, in accordance with the IAFC’s bylaws.

As a result of these events, there are currently no candidates running for second vice president in 2008. Those wishing to declare their candidacy for second vice president must submit formal documentation, including a candidate platform, profile, letter of support and letter of intent to run to the elections committee liaison at least 60 days prior to any campaigning and no later than Feb. 1, 2008. Anyone interested in running for the position should contact Elections Committee Chair Chief Mark Bradford as soon as possible to receive the detailed requirements and timeline for a campaign.

Cochran announced his resignation, stating the commitment required by his new position necessitates his resignation from the position of IAFC first vice president and eventually president. “It was an extremely difficult decision,” he said. “However, I felt it would be unfair to both the citizens of Atlanta and the members of the IAFC to not give either position my full time and attention.”

The full IAFC board of directors convened an evening session on Monday and approved Johnson’s appointment. He will be sworn in at IAFC headquarters in Fairfax in early December. Johnson was running uncontested for IAFC’s second vice president in the 2008 election.

“I am confident Chief Johnson will make an excellent addition to our leadership team,” said IAFC President Steven Westermann. “Accepting the position of second vice president is not a matter to be taken lightly. I hope that additional IAFC members will follow his example by stepping up to run for second vice president in 2008.”