LONDONDERRY — During Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jackie Cilley’s Londonderry appearance Tuesday morning, her conversations with local firefighters had a theme: the dire need for additional staff members.

Cilley, who has gained the endorsement of the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire, among other local unions, made a stop on Londonderry’s Town Common early Tuesday, where a small cluster of firefighters wearing bright yellow T-shirts flanked her in front of the town’s war memorial.

The Barrington mother of five, who served as a state representative from 2004-2006, and as a state senator from 2006-2010, made several stops Tuesday, including visits to Nashua and Manchester.

In Londonderry, where local fire officials have been waging a long-fought battle to hire four additional firefighters, there’s been much support for Cilley’s endeavors, according to Londonderry firefighter Bo Butler, vice president of Local 3160.

The topic of fire staffing has been an ongoing dispute in Londonderry, as town officials try to juggle budget constraints with the safety needs of the growing town.

This past March, Town Meeting voters rejected a warrant article that would have allowed for the hire of four additional firefighters, leaving fire officials wondering how they’ll handle their ever-increasing workload.

Earlier this summer, the Town Council gave Fire Chief Kevin MacCaffrie permission to apply for a federal SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response) grant, though the town won’t know its status until later this fall.

However, even if the town is ultimately approved for the funding, it’s unclear what might happen: the grant would fund salaries and benefits for four new firefighters for a total of two years, though the town would still need to come up with funding for the new staff members’ equipment and job training.

Cilley said she’s seen similar dilemmas in communities all over the state.

“We see towns doing with less and less,” she noted, though warned that such cutbacks aren’t helping communities struggling to gain economic advantages via new business growth.

“Businesses don’t want to go to communities that don’t offer an educated environment, a safe environment,” she emphasized. “It’s time we, instead, have a frank discussion about doing things in a fairer way,” she added, gaining a smattering of applause from her small audience.

Bob Lang, president of the Professional Firefighters of New Hampshire, said the state firefighters’ union took a long look at both parties and all candidates while deciding whom to endorse for governor.

“It was something we took very seriously,” said Lang. “But what we want is a governor who truly looks and acts like the middle class of New Hampshire.”

“Watching her passion — and compassion — during her terms as state representative, we can see that Jackie really understands the issues facing all of us right now,” he added. “As we begin to come out of this economic recession we’ve all been in, the new governor will need to make some tough decisions and put all stakeholders at the table.”

Later, Butler made a wisecrack about Cilley’s most recent television advertisement, featuring a cluster of roving zombies, which Cilley said is a tongue-in-cheek reference to “the presence of pledge politics and how it compromises conversations about what’s needed to improve the economy and create good jobs.”

“I don’t see any zombies here today, so I think we’re doing okay,” he laughed.

“We’re all in this together and what we’re fighting for is common sense in politics,” Cilley said.

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April Guilmet may be reached at AGuilmet@newstote.com.