Adam Gillard

Adam Gillard was born in Austin, Texas. He served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve from 2002 to 2022. He earned a bachelor's and a graduate degree from Walden University in 2016 and 2018, respectively. His career experience includes working as a politician. Gillard has been affiliated with EPCO Progressive Vets.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Hello, my name is Adam Gillard, and I am running for the United States House of Representatives. I am a husband, a father of four, and a United States Air Force retiree.

I was raised in Michigan and enlisted in the Air Force shortly after 9/11. During my Air Force career, I was able to travel the world, meet my wife and start a family. All while the Air Force was teaching me how to be a servant leader.

I have a passion for taking care of people and getting things done. I currently Chair the EPCO Progressive Veterans, and we continue to serve our Vets and push legislation to help solve systemic issues. I will always champion projects that support working class Americans and Veterans.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Accountability - We need someone who stands up for everyone and answers to everyone.Infrastructure - We deserve someone who will fight to build Colorado Springs into the nexus of the Space Industry. We need to push for a mass rail transit system that is planned with sustainability and conservationism at the forefront.Military & Veteran Issues - Fight to keep Space Command/Fight for a full VA hospital.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Military and veteran policy will always be a passion. I will always follow those areas very closely. I also want to focus on providing access to skilled trades training and feeding into our organized labor unions. Unions built our nation and will continue to push us forward!

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I think George Washington is the type of leader we should all aspire to be. Without General Washington, we never would have defeated the British. He was the master of the strategic retreat, because he had a larger vision on how to win the war. Then as President Washington, he easily could have served for the rest of his life. However, he made a decision that was in the best interest of the new nation, not his own ego. He served two terms and stepped aside. He understood the dangers of life long politicians.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The Teachings of Jesus. As an agnostic, I still base my life off of what I learned in parochial school. Take care of people and treat them how you want to be treated. It's so basic, but I feel that its lost in our society.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity. An enormous amount of trust and responsibility is being placed on any elected official. Constituents deserve a leader that can be trusted to make every decision based on honest personal ethics that can be communicated effectively. People should know where you stand.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I have been in high stress environments for a long time. Being able to make decisions and effectively communicate my decision in high stress situations was a trademark of my time in the military. Being able to make decisions and get things done will make me a successful officeholder.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Respond to cases. Taking care of your constituents concerns and responding in timely manners is Priority 1. Ideas for legislation that positively effects people can be drawn for this work, too.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to leave something that is looked back upon like how we look at the Great Pyramid.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The Persian Gulf War was the first big world event I remember caring about. I vaguely remember Bush beating Dukakis, but didn't really care. I was 10 when the Gulf War broke out. I had all of the Gulf War trading cards!

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was a janitor in a steel factory. I didn't have it long after that chili cookoff.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Elevation by Stephen King. Its a good book. But my wife gave it to me for like 3 events in a row. A new copy each time. Birthday, anniversary, Christmas. Completely unintentional. She was acutely aware of it the third time, but psyched her self into making the same choice! We almost died laughing. Now my daughters find the book and wrap it for me every chance they get. We don't buy a new copy every time anymore. Mr. King only got 3 royalties off this family!

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Superman, because he is a super man.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Time To Move On - Ward Davis Version

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

You can't ask a husband, father of 4, recent retiree, broken vet, bad friend with slightly high cholesterol to explain his life struggles in under 2000 characters.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The House of Representatives is the People's House. It allows a path for people from all experiences to have a voice in their federal government. Grassroots efforts and strong communities can directly effect their own government through the House of Representatives.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Yes, experience is always beneficial. Is it required? Absolutely not! Leaders come from all walks of life. If someone raises their hand and says they want to be a leader, then we should weigh that person not only on their accomplishments, but also their attitude and aptitude towards being an effective legislator.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Domestically - Our division along party lines leads to legislative stagnation that ripples into every avenue of our lives. The constant budget fights are already affecting our standing in the international economy. We need to work together for pragmatic solutions to the problems facing working class Americans.

International - Our peer adversaries are going to push us on all frontiers. Russia and China both have declining populations and will continue their aggressive expansion to access ports and shipping lanes to help bolster their economy and increase population. Drawing us into more conflicts to support our allies.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

No. It has become a constant campaign. Increasing it to 3-4 years (dependent on the term limits also established) would allow for more time to be spent on legislating.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Congressional term limits need to be established. The legislative branch still needs to provide some long term continuity of government. I would propose 20 years for the House of Representatives. 30 years for the Senate. Combined 40 years and can't start a term after 79 years old. To help make Representatives be more productive I would also move to increase terms to 3-4 years. The 2 year cycle has essentially become one campaign cycle.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I do not have a particular representative. I do always like to mention Hawaii's first representative, Daniel Inouye. His heroics in WWII, and entire life story, are life-changingly inspirational. Currently, I appreciate Jamie Raskin who is an eloquent speaker who makes topics easy to understand and relate too. Jeff Jackson is another person who speaks clearly and calmy. Which I think scares people. I also always respected John Boehner for his honesty.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

I recently had the pleasure of meeting a new friend. We'll call her Lois, because that's her name. I met Lois in Cripple Creek. She was helping with my Progressive Vets booth. Lois is 86. She told me, she remembers picking milk weed pods to support the WWII effort. She was a nurse for 40 years. (And almost punched an antivaxxer in Cripple Creek!) She has spent her life giving back to others. She just helped me put on a Veterans' Day Event that fed 100 veterans and their family members. The most memorable moment of that day was watching Lois laugh while talking with the vets.

Love you Lois!

Tell us your favorite joke.

See next answer

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Our nation is founded on compromise. The Great Compromise established Congress, as we know it. That should be the lesson we take from our Founders. Their words are fallible. We've amended them. But their actions and willingness to compromise are something we can't doubt. Building coalitions that can compromise is the only way to move forward.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

We need to focus on building infrastructure that is sustainable and focuses on conservation.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

Committees using investigative powers allows the House to legislate with all required information. I think they should enforce subpoenas. Normal people cannot blatantly disregard a subpoena. Members of Congress should be held to a higher standard.