Darryl Gibbs

Darryl Gibbs was born in Sterling, Illinois. He began serving in the United States Air Force in 1985. Gibbs' professional experience includes being an owner/operator truck driver and a C-130 crew chief in the Air Force Reserves.[1]

Darryl Gibbs did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Darryl Gibbs did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Lieutenant governor

Darryl Gibbs did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Governor

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m an owner-operator truck driver, and a C130 Crew Chief in the Air Force Reserves. And I’m a parent. I am no career politician. I am a regular, blue collar truck driver. Do I have a degree? No. Am I doing this for fame or fortune? Heck no. I am already famous enough in my own mind, and you can’t take your money with you when you go. But I know what’s right, and I know what’s wrong. I know what hard work is, and I know what integrity is. I know about policies, laws, and processes. I know about running a business and having a budget. I know about being a parent and wanting the best for your children. I know what it’s like to work a 70 hour week to put food on the plate right now, while also trying to set aside some money for those car and house repairs, while also wondering how I’m going to find money to put into my retirement fund. I’m just a regular guy, trying to do what’s right.

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?

COMMON SENSE: This is what people seem to be lacking lately. Just little common sense can go a long way, and I have a lot of it. We need to stop making decisions out of fear, and start taking action based on pure, common sense.I WORK FOR YOU: It seems as if many people in public office these days have forgotten you do not work for them - but THEY work for YOU. They were elected info office by you, and they therefore should be working for you.STAYING IN TOUCH: Often-times, people elected into public office get a little too comfortable sitting behind their desk. Eventually, they lose touch with the people they are working for and making decisions for. That is not me. I'm not a "sit behind the desk" kind of guy. I want to meet and get to know the people that I am making decisions for.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

EDUCATION: Parents are not enemies of the state. They should be involved in their children’s education. They have a right to speak up and voice their opinion. If we started teaching our children quality information and stopped filling their heads with nonsense, we would not be where we are right now.

MASKS/VACCINES/MANDATES: We are an American society comprised of free will/free choice. People should be able to decide for themselves if they do, or don't, want to wear a mask (or get a vaccine). If you want to wear a mask (or get a vaccine), great. If you don't want to, great. We need to get over this accusatory attitude that many people are taking on. If you are wearing a mask/vaccinated but somebody else is not, you are more than free to wear a mask for your OWN additional protection if you still feel unsafe. It is wrong to punish, or look down on somebody, just because they made a personal choice that was different from your choice.

JOBS: As a result of many ridiculous decisions made over the past year, people’s businesses and livelihoods have taken a hit. We need to stop paying able-bodied/able-minded people to not work. Yes, there are people who legitimately cannot work, and we should provide assistance to them. But everyone else should be able to work-including individuals who choose not to get a vaccine. If you have made a person decision about your own health (i.e., you choose not to get a vaccine), you should not have to worry about losing your job.

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

I look up to two people - my mom and my grandmother. I look up to my mom because she is a hard-working, ambitious, independent woman. After serving her country in the Women's Army Core (WAC), she came home and worked 2 jobs in order to support her family as a single mother. She did whatever it took to keep food on the table and keep the family safe. I look up to my grandmother because she was a feisty, perseverant, determined, hard-headed woman. She never gave up (she even carried a 38 in her pocketbook). My grandmother had 25 children. She, too, did whatever it took to take care of her family, from cleaning houses to picking cotton. She was a strong woman, who lived to the graceful age of 104.

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

Holding a position of an elected official is one that most people would not want, or be able to do. By running for a public office, you are opening yourself up to a great deal of ridicule and criticism. As a result, you need to have thick skin. The position of Governor also holds a great deal of responsibility. Individuals who serve in this position should have some key characteristics, such as: integrity, honesty, humility, empathy, and perseverance. Not only do I possess each of these characteristics, but I take these responsibilities very seriously.

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

My military background has provided me with some key skills that would directly apply to my position as Governor. I am level-headed. I am able to deal with any situation calmly and coolly, and with a clear head - so that I can properly address it and arrive at the best resolution. I am courteous and professional at all times. I possess the ability to respectfully converse with anybody, and arrive at a common solution. I am also aware of, educated on, and concerned about, current political issues.

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

The core responsibilities of the Governor should include:

- Managing the state's budget

- Proposing and passing new laws and legislation that would have a positive impact on the citizens of that state

- Vetoing legislation that would have a negative impact on the citizens of that state

- Talking with and getting to know the citizens of that state, so that he/she can be fully aware of what the people of that state really want, what they are concerned about, and what is important to them

What legacy would you like to leave?

When I leave this Earth, I want to have made a positive difference in the world. I want to leave this world just a little better off. When people think of me, I want them to remember somebody who never gave up, and was willing to work their fingers to the bone. I want them to remember a person who always did what was right, even if nobody was watching. I want them to remember somebody who was always willing to lend a helping hand and give the shirt off of my back. And, most importantly, I want them to remember somebody who had an awesome sense of humor.

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

I listened to an interview between Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. The interview took place in 1964. I was not alive when the actual interview took place, but I remember listening to it as a child, and it made a lasting impact on me. Malcolm X drove home the idea that you should NOT instigate or start violence. However, you should protect yourself if somebody else starts something. Malcolm X really empowered people to stand up for themselves.

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

I was a bagger/sacker at a grocery store. I held that job for 7 months. I liked it because it allowed me to meet a variety of people.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Malcolm X spoke about the fact that you should never be the source of violence - but if violence is instigated against you, you should stand up for and protect yourself.

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

John Wick

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

"Simple Man", by The Charlie Daniels Band - and, "I Won't Back Down", by Johnny Cash

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

I have been through many struggles in my life. In fact, being an owner/operator truck driver is a struggle in and of itself. It takes a lot of time and hard manual labor to load/unload the truck, and then take care of maintenance on the truck. It also takes a lot of effort and skill to work out the logistics of trucking (finding loads that will take you from point A to point B to point C and back home again).

A governor is the top executive authority in his or her state. What does that mean do you?

Holding a public office position such as Governor is one of the greatest duties you can do to serve your country (and state). I would take this job, and these duties, very seriously. This position holds a lot of responsibility - but that is the reason why I am seeking the position of Governor. I don't want to just make a positive different at the city level. I want to make a positive difference for the entire state of Colorado.

Governors have many responsibilities, which vary from state to state. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your state?

The most important responsibility a Governor holds is to serve and protect the citizens of their state, through laws and policies passed, budgets balanced, and other actions taken.

Different states require governors to have different degrees of responsibility for the state budgeting process. If it were your choice, what do you believe is the appropriate degree of gubernatorial involvement with this process in your state?

The Governor should be as involved as is needed.

In most states, governors have the power to make line-item vetoes. If that is true in your state, what would be your philosophy for how and when to use this power?

If the bill being decided upon would have negative repercussions on the state that the Governor serves, then that Governor should have the ability/authority to line-item veto that bill.

If the governor's office in your state does not have the line-item veto power, do you believe it should? Why or why not?

If my state does not have the line-item veto power, then it should, for the reasons stated below. If the bill being decided upon would have negative repercussions on the state that the Governor serves, then that Governor should have the ability/authority to line-item veto that bill.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

In a perfect world, everyone would work together for the common good of the people - regardless of what position they hold (governor, state legislature, etc). Each person holding a public office position is there to represent the people. Therefore, regardless of what position a person in public office holds, each person should do whatever it takes to work together for the common good of the people.

What do you love most about your state?

There are so many things I love about Colorado. I love the beauty of Colorado. From our majestic mountains and forests to our mesmerizing deserts and mesas, to our awe-inspiring canyons and rivers, and everything in between. In Colorado, you truly feel like you are one step closer to Heaven. I also love the people of Colorado. Coloradans are incredibly resilient and tough, yet also friendly and welcoming. We love our outdoors in Colorado, and we love to take advantage of everything Mother Nature has to offer here.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Getting people back to work, and getting rid of the many ridiculous mandates that have been put into place, is going to be an important challenge in the upcoming years. Also, we need to raise the standards of education for all of our students from all backgrounds. Our students also need to be more prepared with skills such as budgeting and finance. Additionally, our small businesses need more support and assistance, and we need to start providing those things to them.

Under what circumstances should the governor of your state be able to use emergency powers?

The Governor of my state should use emergency powers, if the citizens of my state would be put at risk otherwise.