OCEANSIDE -- Lately, Oceanside's City Council members have been seeing red.

Firefighters, clad in vibrant red polo shirts emblazoned with their union logo, have been making silent appearances at recent City Council meetings.

Sitting elbow-to-elbow in the back few rows, they've watched the proceedings until long after the watchdogs, honorees and other spectators have called it a night.

This presence in the council chambers, which comes at the outset of election season, hasn't gone unnoticed.

"Several questions have been asked about the firefighters who are attending council meetings in red shirts," Darryl Hebert, the Fire Department's administrative division chief, told Chief Terry Garrison in an Aug. 21 memorandum.

The department, Hebert said, is not organizing "these events," and the participating firefighters are not on duty.

Mayor Jim Wood, who was backed by the union during his 2004 campaign, said the firefighters "are probably getting actively involved in the community to see what's going on."

It is election time, after all, he said.

Historically the 110-member Oceanside Firefighters' Association has had a loud voice in the city's elections, donating cash and time to its favored candidates.

With more than $117,000 in its campaign war chest as of June 30, the union could again wield considerable sway.

Councilman Jack Feller said he had "no idea" why the firefighters had been putting in time at the meetings, but "it's somewhat intimidating to have them in the crowd."

He later clarified, "I'm not saying it's intimidating to me. But it could be intimidating."

The union hasn't made its endorsements yet for the Nov. 4 election, but campaign filings show it has contributed to Wood and City Council candidate Charles Lowery earlier this year.

Wood is running for re-election against City Councilman Rocky Chavez.

Lowery is part of an eight-person field competing for two open seats on the City Council. Both incumbent council members, Feller and Esther Sanchez, are seeking re-election.

Union President Ray Melendrez said Wednesday that members of his group are spending nights at City Hall simply to learn more about the issues facing the city.

"It's not a political move on our part," Melendrez said. "It's a move for us to educate ourselves."

And the matching attire?

"We wear our red shirts because we're proud of our organization," Melendrez said. "We're proud of the work we do for the city of Oceanside … We want the community to know that we're interested. We want the community to know that we're involved."

He declined to comment on the timing of the appearances.

Sanchez, who is seeking the union's endorsement, said she welcomed the red shirts in the crowd.

"I think it's good that employees want to learn more about how the council works and who they would like to support for the next election," she said.

Contact staff writer Craig TenBroeck at (760) 901-4062 or ctenbroeck@nctimes.com.