Colorado Republican Secretary of State Scott Gessler announced his candidacy for Governor of Colorado at the Cable Center last Tuesday in front of more than 150 supporters and members of the media.

Gessler started by acknowledging the damage caused and lives lost in last week’s floods. He also discussed his family and background, including his time in the army and his work as an attorney. He then discussed his reasons for running for Governor.

“We are here tonight because we care,” he said. “We care about our communities, we care about our families, we care about our future. But I think that future is threatened, because our leaders today are locked into a rigid ideology.”

Disagreeing with incumbent Governor John Hickenlooper’s work to strengthen gun control, reduce prison sentences and require sex education for children, Gessler said Colorado is headed toward decline.

“As a state, we’ve lost a sense of purpose,” he said. “The time is now for bold, new vision.”

He pointed to his tax reduction policies and said he would keep taxes low as governor. He also promised hands-off government.

“A Gessler administration will have an unwavering commitment to get government out of the way of conceptual innovators,” he said. “We will celebrate—not overly regulate—those who follow the rules, create jobs and are good, corporate citizens.”

Former U.S. Representative Bob Schaffer, who introduced Gessler, said, “I believe with all my heart that the next governor of Colorado is standing in this room. The next governor of Colorado has earned trust already and support of those of us who like to take matters into our own hands.”

Schaffer called on those in the audience to help Gessler be elected by doing everything they possibly could, including “knocking on every door” and writing checks with “extra zeroes.”

“Do everything you can to persuade all of Colorado that the next governor of our state is our secretary of state,” Schaffer said.

Gessler, who has been called “the honey badger” in the past based on a YouTube video, addressed the nickname directly during his announcement.

“Some of you may know that the liberal media calls me ‘the honey badger,’” he said. “Maybe it’s just because some don’t like a solid, forward-looking conservative.”
He ended his announcement by saying, “This honey badger is ready to fight.”