Fourth generation firefighter Lieutenant TJ Merry could well become a third generation fire chief.
Wiscasset Fire Department members elected Merry chief, replacing Rob Bickford. Merry’s father and grandfather have both held the position of fire chief for the town.
The secret ballot vote was 16 for Merry, 12 for Bickford, and one person left their ballot blank in the June 5 vote, according to Merry.
TJ Merry is the son of Tim Merry, who served as the town’s fire chief for 20 years and stepped down in 2010. Tim now works as a captain for the Bath Fire Department.
Rob Bickford replaced Tim when he retired, and TJ ran against and lost to Bickford for the position last year, TJ said.
“I’m really excited to get started, very happy with all the support from the people behind me,” TJ said in an interview June 6. “I look forward to continue pushing Wiscasset Fire Department to its fullest ability and be the lead department in the county.”
Asked if he felt there would be any bad blood between him and Bickford, TJ said, “I hope not, I really hope not. Rob’s a good guy, I’ve got nothing against him at all.”
Calls to Bickford for comment were not immediately returned.
TJ said one of his goals is to get some wayward members to get more involved with the department.
“There’s a lot of good firefighters in this town that haven’t been around for a couple years and with the proper changes hopefully they’ll come back down,” he said. There are a lot of frustrated department members hoping for some changes related to personnel, he said.
“It’s going to be an uphill climb for sure,” he said of the changes.
Town Manager Laurie Smith said she appoints the fire chief after town meeting, and while not required, the person elected by the department is traditionally the one appointed.
Once appointed, TJ hopes to have his father serve as deputy chief.
“I’m dragging the old man out of retirement, he’s going to be my deputy chief,” TJ said.