10/29/2026
Hobart Firefighters Local 1641 PROUDLY endorses Mayor Josh Huddlestun for re-election.
Mayor Huddlestun has made public safety a priority through action. He has addressed the needs of a fire department that went overlooked for too long. Working alongside Local 1641 he has made tremendous progress to strengthen our department and to plan responsibly for its future.
His record to date includes:
• Creating six additional firefighter positions, bringing our line staffing to its highest level in department history.
• Supporting organized labor and fair contracts.
• Investing in fire station renovations at House 1, House 2, and House 4. Renovations include: paint, complete kitchen remodels, appliances, and epoxy flooring throughout.
In addition, House 1 also had the apparatus bay be completely repainted, drain was repaired, and epoxy flooring will be installed in the apparatus bay next month!
• New emergency back-up generators for House 1, House 2, and House 3.
• New fitness equipment at each station
• Equipment upgrades for our ambulances such as: Cardiac Monitors, Power Cots, Stair-chairs, & Power loaders.
•Equipment upgrades for fire apparatus such as: new AMKUS extrication equipment on Truck 1 and hand tools for all rigs.
•Rope rescue equipment such as: new rope, new harnesses, new and advanced hardware
• New drone and vehicle for the Drone Team
• New handheld sonar, masks, dry suits, and underwater communications for the Dive Team
• Forcible entry training prop
• Supporting a new 100-foot Aerial Tower, a new 107-foot Quint, and two new ambulances.
• Approving annual advanced cancer screenings for firefighters.
These investments support the firefighters answering the call and the residents and businesses depending on us. Adequate staffing, dependable equipment, and firefighter health are essential to protecting Hobart.
We deeply appreciate both what Mayor Huddlestun has accomplished and his commitment to making that progress responsible and sustainable. His willingness to do what’s right for the City of Hobart and to work with us has helped build a stronger foundation for the future of the Hobart Fire Department.
He has earned our trust, our appreciation, and our endorsement.