LOBDELL — Whitney Crockett grew up riding along to fire calls with her father. Now she's running for one of the top seats in the Louisiana State Firemen's Association.

Crockett, a Lobdell resident and support staff member with Pointe Coupee Fire District 3, is a candidate for 2nd Vice President of the LSFA, the state's largest firefighter organization. The election is scheduled for Saturday, August 8.

The race isn't her first at the association level. Crockett previously served four consecutive years as the LSFA's 6th District representative — the seat her father once held before moving up to 2nd Vice President himself.

"I'm going back again," she said. "This would have been my year for second vice, so I'm going at it to reclaim a seat and push through to the end."

The LSFA has operated for more than 120 years, advocating for both career and volunteer firefighters across Louisiana. Among its benefits, the organization provides a $15,000 death benefit for members and sends representatives annually to Washington, D.C., through the Congressional Fire Services Institute.

Crockett said the 6th District, which covers West Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge, Pointe Coupee, Tangipahoa, and Livingston parishes, may soon have additional representation. She noted that Melvin Lamotte of West Baton Rouge is running for the 6th District seat.

On the issues, Crockett said leadership and communication go hand in hand — and neither works without the other.

"You cannot be a leader without having communication and transparency behind you," she said. "It takes people from all different avenues — race, culture, creed, gender. It's not a one-person deal."

She also spoke directly about the challenge of being a woman in fire service, which she described as historically male-dominated.

"You do have to work harder as a woman to even gain respect in fire service," Crockett said. "But it's possible. And it goes back to having a voice and just being able to unite people."

If elected, her first priority would be making sure every member knows they have a voice.

"I want everybody to know that they all matter," she said. "I put my phone number out. I put my email out. A lot of people know where I live. If something is needed — something you see, something you don't know — just reach out."

Crockett is not running unopposed. Also in the race for 2nd Vice President is Jarrod Naquin, the LSFA's current 3rd District Representative. The 6th District seat is also on the ballot, with Melvin Lamotte of West Baton Rouge and Brian Drury, Fire Chief at Livingston Parish Fire Protection District 2, both in that race.

The election is open to any LSFA-registered department in Louisiana. According to the association's secretary, eligible departments will receive voting credentials by email. Completed credentials must be returned to the secretary's office by 5:00 PM on Friday, August 8, or postmarked by July 31 if mailed. Once credentials are verified, departments will receive an online voting link. Voting closes when the General Membership Meeting begins at 1:30 PM on Saturday, August 8.

The association is also hosting a candidate forum across multiple sessions between August 5 and August 8, with each candidate given five minutes to address members. The forums will be live-streamed on Facebook and Microsoft Teams.

Credentials are due to the secretary's office by 5:00 PM on Friday, August 8. Once the credentials committee completes its review, approved departments will receive an online voting link. Voting closes when the General Membership Meeting begins at 1:30 PM on Saturday, August 8.

For Crockett, the campaign comes down to something simple — and something the fire service hasn't always been willing to embrace.

"Traditions change," she said. "And over time, those changes can be built and can result in positive."