Garbo: Sheriff Darren Weekly is the exception that proves the GOP’s problem

By C. J. Garbo | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

In 2022, Darren Weekly wasn’t supposed to win. At least not according to the self-appointed gatekeepers of Republican purity in Douglas County. Branded a “RINO,” derided as “Tony 2.0,” and accused of being soft on Second Amendment rights due to the endorsement of outgoing Sheriff Tony Spurlock, Weekly was the target of aggressive intra-party attacks.

The purist wing of the GOP put its full weight behind John Anderson, another outstanding, articulate, and Constitution-minded candidate whose campaign centered on resisting the Red Flag law and defending liberty. 

I was among Anderson’s vocal supporters – endorsing, donating, campaigning, and even hosting events on his behalf.

But Weekly won.

By just over one percentage point, he earned the Republican nomination for Sheriff in the July 2022 primary. 

And the very next day, I stood before a room of activists and volunteers at a Get Out The Vote training and welcomed Darren Weekly with an endorsement as sincere as the one I had previously given Anderson. There was no hesitation. No bitterness. Just recognition of the need for unity, for victory, and for responsible public service.

Today, three years later, Republicans across Douglas County have rallied behind Weekly as he announces his re-election campaign. 

Why? Because he has proven to be an outstanding Sheriff. Weekly has cracked down on crime, championed transparency, increased PIO engagement, partnered with conservative leadership, and aligned his enforcement policies with President Trump’s immigration priorities. 

Even his critics now admit he is a strong, competent, and principled lawman.

But this is not a story about vindication. It’s a cautionary tale.

Sheriff Weekly is the exception that proves the problem. He succeeded in spite of the Republican Party’s treatment of him, not because of it. And while he endured the bruises of his own party’s suspicion and slander, he had the character to carry on. 

The reality is, most candidates of his caliber never make it to the starting line. They see the infighting, the accusations, the endless purity tests, and decide it isn’t worth the cost. In our obsession with ideological perfection, we have made the Republican primary process a gauntlet that filters out far more good people than bad.

The RINO label has become less a signifier of substantive disagreement and more a weapon for factional power. It is hurled at public servants based on a single endorsement, a tangential policy association, or worst of all, a vague vibe of insufficient zealotry.

We apply it liberally and retract it rarely, even when the record clearly vindicates those we’ve branded. 

If Sheriff Weekly had bowed out under pressure, we would have lost the opportunity to elect another principled and highly effective conservative leader. And if that doesn’t prompt serious self-reflection, what will?

We lose far more than we win by chasing ideological purism. We alienate qualified and competent candidates. 

We signal instability and cannibalism to independents and moderates. We misjudge character. And we reinforce the perception that the Republican Party is incapable of identifying or supporting quality leaders who can and will actually govern well.

Weekly didn’t need the DCGOP, Parker Conservatives, or any other local party to define his principles. 

He lived them. His perseverance, integrity, and success are all the more admirable because they came under fire from his own side. We should thank him for staying the course. 

But more importantly, we should ask: How many other Darren Weeklys have we driven away?

If the local GOP continues its track record of opposing high-performing conservatives before eventually applauding them in hindsight, we will erode our credibility as a political force. 

At some point, the pattern becomes a parody. The public notices. And the local party’s capacity to lead diminishes.

Sheriff Weekly’s record stands as a rebuke to the scorched-earth instincts of purity politics. He is proof that effective conservatism doesn’t always come wrapped in the right factional label, but in the fruits of leadership, restraint, and public service.

We would do well to remember that.

Because the next great conservative leader might already be among us – watching whether we greet him with wisdom, or with the same self-defeating fire we so often mistake for faithfulness.

I was proud to stand with Darren Weekly in July 2022, and I’m even prouder to do so in July 2025. His record speaks for itself – strong, principled, and deeply effective. My endorsement is a confirmation of renewed conviction. 

May his leadership continue to raise the bar for Douglas County and inspire what true and inspired conservative service looks like.

C. J. Garbo is a former sheriff’s deputy and reserve deputy marshal with over 20 years of experience in law enforcement and public safety. He holds certifications in Command Leadership from FBI-LEEDA and has completed executive training through Harvard Business Publishing. In addition to his law enforcement background, Garbo has served as a political strategist and campaign manager across local, state, and federal races in Colorado. His combined expertise in frontline policing and conservative political strategy gives him a unique and credible perspective on public service leadership and Republican Party dynamics.

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.