Mike Gibbons

Attorney General Republican candidate Mike Gibbons recently visited the Bootheel, stopping at a Republican rally in Dexter, Mo., on Monday, and the Delta Center Field Day on Tuesday.

Gibbons, who was born and raised in Kirkwood, Mo., practiced law with his father, Michael Gibbons, Sr., for 21 years. He was recently named "Missouri Senator of the year" by the Missouri Sheriff's Association for his efforts on behalf of law enforcement including his successful efforts to boost pay for hard-working deputy sheriffs.

Gibbons has served eight years as a member of the Missouri House of Representatives, eight years as a member of the Missouri Senate, and has been the president pro tem of the Senate for the past four years. He was also the chairman for the Senate Ways and Means committee and the floor leader for two years.

Gibbons has been spending time trying to "hit all the corners of the state."

"We're just out there working on getting our message out," said Gibbons.

"We think that we can do a better job seeing that the people of Missouri are safe and secure, both their families and children, and their property, and we've got a plan to make that happen," Gibbons continued.

Gibbons then spoke on doing things differently than the way they are done now.

"First and foremost, it is very important for this office that people have confidence in the office. To do that you have to make sure you avoid the appearance of impropriety," Gibbons said.

"One of the things that's going to change, if I'm elected, is the practice of soliciting and accepting campaign contributions from people or companies that are being investigated or prosecuted by the attorney general's office is over. It will not happen as long as I'm the attorney general of the state," he continued.

Gibbons also noted that if elected, he plans on setting up a cyber crimes task force, based out of the Attorney General's office, in an effort to protect kids from Internet predators.