Firefighter sets sights on House seat
Hartford’s Diaz says 6th District vacancy a chance to ‘give back to the city that gave me everything’
Hartford firefighter Jason Diaz has announced he is running for state representative in the special election Feb. 28.
Diaz, Hartford Firefighters Local 760 Union president and a Democrat who lives in the South End of Hartford, pointed to his lifetime of service to the city as his desire to seek public office.
“Being a firefighter and working these streets, I’ve seen a lot,” Diaz said. “I feel I can represent this district in a way others can’t. I know the issues and struggles people have in the city from poverty, taxes, crime and public safety to environmental concerns. I will be a voice for all these issues.”
Diaz is running for the 6th House District seat vacated earlier this month by Democrat Edwin Vargas.
Vargas, who ran unopposed in 2022 and was easily reelected, resigned just before being sworn in for a new term.
In addition to a portion of Hartford, the 6th House District also serves a single voting precinct in neighboring West Hartford, a new addition to the district brought on by redistricting.
“As a Union President I fight for wages, benefits and the safety of workers,” Diaz said. “There are folks who live paycheck to paycheck and then most of their money is going to health care. So helping working families is a big part of who I fight for. Not the party but the people. I will fight for renters as well. My firefighters can’t even afford rent in the city. So what does that mean for other workers? If you work at a mom and pop bodega or a postal office, it’s hard to afford rent here. So I am fighting for all these people.”
Diaz said that growing up in Hartford and having a mom who worked for the city fire department had a major influence on his life.
“I was taught to help people,” Diaz said. “I came from two parents who worked two union jobs. My father was our Little League baseball coach. My Mom actually worked in the fire department in the social services division and was bilingual helping people as a translator. So people helped me along the way, whether it was teachers, coaches, or people in the community. So it’s just in my blood to help people.”
Diaz, who has been a city employee since 1998, now currently coaches girls’ youth basketball and credits his love of sports to teaching him teamwork and problem solving.
“Sports saved me from the streets. Right out of college I started coaching and teaching at Bulkeley High School and became a long term substitute there,” Diaz said. “While I dabbled in other areas and got my real estate license, I always kept coaching. Many aspects of sports you can translate to firefighting. When we have a fire, there’s not one person putting out the fire. It takes a crew and a team working together. The same can be said with sports or representing this district. It’s not just me, we all need to work together.”
But aside from his roles as a firefighter, union president, father, and coach, at heart he said he’s still just a kid from the South End.
“I’m a Hartford boy. I’m a South End boy born and bred. I grew up here and have a deep connection here. I want to continue giving back to the city.”
In addition to Diaz, Hartford city council member James Sanchez announced last week he is also running for the open seat.