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About Cresent Hardy

Born and raised in Mesquite, Nevada, Cresent Hardy has always worked hard to not only take care of himself and his family, but to give back to his community. His commitment to public service is clear – he has served as the Mesquite Public Works Director, a member of the Virgin Valley Water District, as a member of the Mesquite City Council, and has served two terms in the Nevada State Assembly. Cresent Hardy brings over two decades of distinguished public service experience to his campaign for Nevada’s 4th Congressional District.

A fifth-generation resident of Mesquite – his grandfather was the first baby born in the town – Hardy knows the importance of building a strong, safe community for families. He and his wife, Peri, have been married for 32 years, and are the parents of four wonderful children.

Cresent is proud to have co-founded the Golf Fore Kids fundraising program, which has raised over $165,000 for needy children in Southern Nevada in only four short years. Hardy is also active in his church and community organizations such as Junior Livestock, 4H, and veterans groups. He partnered in the creation of the Legacy of Higher Learning and Talent Development organization, which has provided roughly 60 scholarships in the past years for young Southern Nevada students to help them attend college.

Growing up in a farming community taught Cresent the value of hard work at a young age. Working with cattle, horses, and pigs on his father’s ranch as a young man instilled a valuable work ethic that he applies each and every day as a businessman. As a small business owner, Cresent Hardy knows what it takes to create jobs, make payroll, and meet a budget…something we desperately need more of in Washington! The value of a hard day’s work and being self-reliant helped him to succeed in his career as a licensed contractor and small business owner.

Cresent Hardy knows that fostering a low-tax environment that encourages business growth and expansion is critical to creating the new, high-paying jobs that bring economic prosperity to our communities. Especially during this prolonged recession, Nevada needs representatives in Washington like Cresent Hardy with the first-hand knowledge of how to jump start our economy and Nevada working again!

Issues

Cresent Hardy

► BALANCING THE BUDGET / SIZE OF GOVERNMENT:
The Federal Government has got to learn to live within its’ means. We must immediately balance the overly bloated federal budget, and actively work toward reducing our trade deficit.

As a long-time businessman, I have had to keep a sharp eye on the bottom line of my businesses to ensure that employees and vendors are paid on time. The government should operate by this same basic standard. We cannot spend money that we do not have!

The periodic raising of the nation’s debt ceiling is not a long-term solution. Government must provide for the essential responsibilities of national defense, maintenance of federal highways, preservation of Social Security, and welfare programs for our most needy citizens. Aside from these core responsibilities, most functions of government are more efficiently handled at the state and local levels.

► JOBS / ECONOMY:
Job creation and retention are the key elements to getting our stagnant economy moving again. Employers will not invest in new businesses or expand existing ones when taxes are high and the federal government is saddling them with expensive unfunded mandates and burdensome regulations.

Congress is not directly a job creator. However, the federal government can and should be instrumental in creating a business climate in which employers are willing to invest in business expansion, new business start-ups are encouraged, and invasive regulations are kept to a minimum.

► EDUCATION:
I believe that decisions regarding the education of our children are best made at the local and state levels, rather than by the Federal Department of Education. Innovative programs such as merit pay for our best teachers should be further explored and developed. Voucher programs and charter schools have shown positive results and should be dramatically expanded.

► HEALTHCARE:
The Federal Government should not be forcing unfunded mandates such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) upon the states. This sort of top-down legislation from the Federal Government comes with many unintended consequences, and places tremendous burden upon the businesses and employers that drive our economy.

Management of healthcare policy at the state level would help to mitigate fraud and abuse, while ensuring that each state develops programs that best suit the needs of their residents. A one-size-fits-all approach does not work on an issue as complex as healthcare coverage. Reform is needed. However, the ACA is far over-reaching, expensive, and detrimental to our fragile economy.

► NATIONAL DEFENSE:
As one of the most fundamental responsibilities of the Federal Government, a strong national defense is critical to the freedom and quality of life of all Americans. Our borders must remain secure, and we must at all times be cognizant of the rising threat from those who wish to do us harm, both foreign and domestic.
We must take great care in determining any necessary intervention in foreign affairs, especially when there is no imminent threat to the United States or American citizens. We can remain a strong, assertive, respected World Leader without being viewed as the “Policeman of the World.”

► NEVADA FORECLOSURES:
Nevada was hit harder than any state in the nation by the foreclosure crisis that began in 2008, and continues to this day. We must ensure that Nevada receives the attention that we deserve from any federal government program that attempts to remedy this ongoing situation.

Banks have dramatically altered their lending practices as a result of this sustained recession, and rightly so, as their lax lending practices surely were a factor in the cause of the foreclosure crisis. The Federal Government oversees our nation’s banking system, and therefore, must ensure that banks are lending to qualified buyers and not reverting to the adjustable rate mortgages that contributed to so many foreclosures in Nevada.

► NEVADA AS A DONOR STATE:
Nevada pays more to the Federal Government than we receive in return in services. I will fight to get more of OUR MONEY back. Nevada has been a “donor state” for far too long. We have essential services that need our resources, and Nevada can better decide how to spend OUR MONEY than the Federal Government.