By Josh Resnek
Craig Hardy is not just an Everett fire fighter, he is the president of the Everett Firefighters Union Local 143, a job he has held and loved for the past 11 years.
Recently, Hardy (above) was made the Legislative Agent for the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts – which includes 12,000 union firefighters.
He will be one of the organizations chief lobbyists.
He will remain an Everett firefighter as well.
“What I want to do is what I have done for the past 11 years,” he said during an interview at the Leader Herald.
“I want to protect firefighter benefits, health care and retirement. This is what is important to me,” he added.
Hardysaid heknowstheinsand outs about the politics of protecting benefits, that he understands the give and take between state government and municipalities.
“I’m not a politician. I’m a firefighter,” he said.
Hardy lives in Everett. His two children, Julia Marie, 8 and Maximus, 6 are students at the Webster School.
He is an Everett High School graduate, 1993 – and played some hockey while he was there. He went on to play hockey for University of Massachusetts, where he got his degree.
Hardy has been an Everett firefighter since he was 23.
His father Richard Hardy, Sr. is a retired electrician.
His brother Richard Hardy, Jr., is also an electrician.
He has a sister Kristy Hardy and his mother is Lillian Hardy.