Columbus's firefighters union picked its candidate for mayor on November 11, 2026, less than a year before the 2027 primary and general elections, endorsing City Council President Shannon Hardin after a vote of its members. IAFF Local 67, which represents about 1,700 employees at the Division of Fire, made the announcement to news media at the union hall on Wednesday.
Union president Steve Stein said members backed Hardin because they are unhappy with how Mayor Andrew Ginther has overseen staffing shortfalls and an aging fire fleet, according to a report from Yahoo News. In response, Hardin pledged to launch a fire and emergency services modernization initiative within his first 100 days as mayor if elected, along with a predictable schedule for firefighter recruit classes.
The endorsement lands amid a turbulent stretch for the Division of Fire's leadership. Chief Jeffrey Happ, who had worked for the division for more than 30 years, submitted his resignation effective Jan. 16, a move that led to the cancellation of a scheduled discipline hearing against him, the Columbus Dispatch reported. Interim Chief David Baugh has since taken on budget and fleet matters for the division.
A Long-Running Fight Over Fire Trucks
The union's grievances did not surface overnight. For months, Local 67 has warned city leaders about what it calls an apparatus crisis — aging vehicles, frequent repairs and staffing shortages — according to ABC6 On Your Side. That outlet reported that Ginther's office said two new fire engines were being commissioned this year, with three more engines, three ladder trucks and four medic units expected to arrive later in 2026.
The union has raised concerns about equipment and staffing, while the fire division maintains it has enough equipment and staff on hand to respond to emergencies, per the Dispatch's earlier coverage. The two sides have not reconciled those competing accounts.
Millions Earmarked for New Trucks in 2027 Budget
City Hall has since moved to address the fleet concerns through its budget process. Ginther's 2027 capital budget earmarks $21.5 million to replace fire department vehicles, the Dispatch's October report shows. Baugh said that funding will cover eight engines, two ladder trucks and more than 10 medic vehicles, with another $3.5 million set aside to renovate division buildings.
Even that infusion may fall short of what officials say is needed. Fleet management and the fire division estimate the city actually needs $18 million to $25 million each year to keep pace with replacement costs, according to the same Dispatch reporting, while the city's proposal sits at $18 million annually going forward.
Hardin's Mayoral Bid
Local 67's endorsement adds support to Hardin's mayoral campaign.
For now, the firefighters' union is betting that Hardin, currently Columbus City Council president, can deliver the fleet and staffing fixes it says have eluded the city under Ginther. Whether that translates into broader momentum will play out over the coming year as the mayoral race takes shape.
