Marine Corps veteran and Benghazi survivor Mark Geist is turning his focus toward public safety and governance in his home state of Colorado, arguing that decades of single-party political control have left local communities vulnerable to rising crime and systemic failures.
Geist, who helped save more than 25 American lives during the September 11, 2012, terrorist attacks in Benghazi, Libya, drew a direct line between accountability in high-stakes environments and the responsibilities of elected officials. Reflecting on the loss of four Americans during that attack, he emphasized that leadership requires taking responsibility, confronting failure, and safeguarding those who depend on authority figures.
Having left Colorado in 1984 to join the Marine Corps before returning in 1996 to enter law enforcement, Geist served as a deputy sheriff in Teller County, investigated crimes against women and children, and eventually became chief of police in Fowler. His background informs his critique of the state’s current trajectory, particularly under nearly two decades of Democratic control in the governor’s office.
Among the central issues raised are the state’s drug and property crime crises. Colorado recorded a more than 900% increase in fentanyl-related deaths between 2018 and 2023, a period overlapping with the tenure of Attorney General Phil Weiser. Geist pointed out that trafficking networks utilize transportation corridors like Interstate 25 to move drugs and facilitate other criminal enterprises, compounding struggles with vehicle theft that disproportionately impact working parents.
In addition to the drug trade, Geist scrutinized Weiser’s record on public safety and high-profile legal challenges against federal administrations, questioning the costs and practical accomplishments of those legal battles as Weiser pursues the governorship. Voters, he argued, are entitled to a thorough examination of what worked, what failed, and what changes are needed.
Comparing political leadership to the 14 core traits instilled in the Marine Corps—including integrity, courage, and decisiveness—Geist stressed the importance of maintaining standards rather than abandoning missions when difficulties arise. He expressed support for alternative leadership figures in the state, including Victor Marx, who has worked extensively with victims of abuse and human trafficking, and George Markert, a retired Marine Corps colonel with three decades of military service.
For Geist, whose great-grandfather settled on Colorado’s eastern plains in 1910, the stakes are deeply personal. As a multi-generation resident watching his children and grandchildren navigate the state, he maintains that public service must remain centered on the safety and well-being of ordinary citizens rather than personal political ambition.
